Managed futures remained in positive territory in March with a 1.65 per cent return for the month according to the Barclay CTA Index, compiled by BarclayHedge.
March’s CTA fund performance brought managed futures back into the black for the year, with a 1.48 per cent year-to-date return through the end of the month.
All of the sectors tracked by Barclay CTA Indices were positive for March and posted positive year-to-date returns through 31 March as well.
“Broad rallies in three of the four major trading sectors; equities, bonds, and currencies, provided a tide that lifted all ships,” says Sol Waksman, president of BarclayHedge. “Commodity markets were mixed as crude oil rose and crop prices declined. Seventy-two percent of CTAs that have reported a March return as of today were profitable for the month.”
The Cryptocurrency Traders Index was the pacesetter in March with a 6.81 per cent monthly return. The MPI Barclay Elite Systematic Traders Index posted a 3.33 per cent return for March, while the Diversified Traders Index returned 2.29 per cent. The Systematic Traders Index registered a 2.22 per cent return in March while the Financial/Metals Traders Index returned 1.75 per cent.
“Many CTA sectors continued to benefit from energy trading opportunities in March,” ssaysaid Waksman. “Meanwhile specialist sectors were lifted by hopeful signs in U.S.-China trade talks that turned some metals and agricultural commodity markets more bullish.”
For the year to date, the Cryptocurrency Traders Index again led the way with a 8.07 per cent return through the end of March. The MPI Barclay Elite Systematic Traders Index returned 2.83 per cent for the year to date, while the Systematic Traders Index and the Financial/Metals Traders Index posted year-to-date gains of 1.53 per cent and 1.51 per cent respectively.
The Barclay BTOP50 Index, which measures the performance of the 20 largest CTAs, gained 2.92 per cent in March and is up 1.64 per cent in 2019.
