Managed futures funds produced a third straight positive month in April returning 1.43 per cent, according to the Barclay CTA Index, compiled by BarclayHedge, a division of Backstop Solutions. For the year to date, CTAs returned 3.80 per cent through April.
“Strong performance in commodity and equity markets were enough to overcome losses in currency and fixed income sectors,” says Sol Waksman, president of BarclayHedge.“
All but one of the sectors tracked in the Barclay CTA Indices were in the black for March. The Cryptocurrency Traders Index set the pace gaining 9.75 per cent, while the MPI Barclay Elite Systematic Traders Index returned 2.64 per cent and the Discretionary Traders Index advanced 2.28 per cent. Other gainers included the Diversified Traders Index, up 2.24 per cent for the month, and the Systematic Traders Index with a 1.42 per cent return.
The lone CTA sector losing ground in April was the Currency Traders Index, down 0.44 per cent. “The Japanese yen reversed its downward trend against the US dollar in early April and traders on the wrong side of the market paid the price,” said Waksman.
For the year to date, the Cryptocurrency Traders Index gained 121.65 per cent through April, the Diversified Traders Index returned 6.05 per cent, the MPI Barclay Elite Systematic Traders Index was up 5.65 per cent, the Discretionary Traders Index advanced 4.97 per cent and the Agricultural Traders Index gained 3.88 per cent.
Again, the Currency Traders Index was the lone sector in the red for the year to date, down 0.58 per cent.
The Barclay BTOP50 Index, which tracks the performance of the largest CTAs that are open for new investment, advanced 2.84 per cent in April. For the year to date, the BTOP50 was up 5.58 per cent.
