Total capital managed by Emerging Markets hedge funds increased to a record level for the fourth consecutive quarter through mid-year 2017, as a synchronised improvement in global growth and increased investor risk tolerance continued to drive gains across regional equity markets.
Emerging Markets (EM) hedge fund capital increased to USD213.3 billion (RMB1.42 trillion, 672 billion Brazilian Real, 13.6 trillion Indian Rupee, 11.3 trillion Russian Ruble, and 800 billion Saudi Real), according to the latest HFR Emerging Markets Hedge Fund Industry Report by HFR.
Investors allocated new capital to EM hedge funds for the first time since Q2 2015, with EM funds receiving USD800 million in net new inflows, while overall EM capital increased by USD7.5 billion in the quarter. As previously reported by HFR, total hedge fund assets globally increased to USD3.1 trillion at the end of Q2, while the HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index gained 4.8 per cent through July, driven by a YTD gain of 12.6 per cent in the HFRI Emerging Markets (Total) Index.
Hedge funds investing in India and China led YTD EM performance, with the HFRI EM: India Index surging 3.6 per cent in July, vaulting its YTD return of 25.5 per cent, which tops the gain of Indian equities by over 300 basis points. Similarly, Chinese hedge funds have produced strong performance with the HFRI EM: China Index advancing 3.5 per cent in July and 19.3 per cent YTD, beating the Shanghai Composite Index by nearly 1400 basis points YTD. Total hedge fund capital invested in Emerging Asia-focused hedge funds increased to USD52.5 billion.
Hedge funds investing in the Middle East surged 1.2 per cent in July, bringing the YTD returns of the HFRI EM: MENA Index to 9.6 per cent. Meanwhile, MENA-focused hedge funds saw their assets grow to nearly USD5.0 billion, managed by approximately 50 regionally-focused funds.
Hedge funds investing in Latin America and Russia both extended strong 2016 gains into mid-year 2017, with the HFRI EM: Latin America Index climbing 10.7 per cent through July, following a return of 27.2 per cent in 2016. Hedge funds investing in Russia/Eastern Europe gained 2.3 per cent in July, moving its YTD return 1.6 per cent YTD, which trails other EM and global regions thus far for the year. Total capital invested in Russian/Eastern European funds declined slightly to USD28.9 billion, while capital invested in LATAM-focused funds increased slightly to USD6.6 billion.
“Inflows returned to EM hedge funds after eight quarters of outflows as investor risk tolerance increased, driven by outstanding performance and regional equity market outperformance concentrated in Emerging Asia,” says Kenneth J Heinz (pictured), President of HFR. “Ongoing regional equity and currency market adjustments, including the recent surge in the Renminbi, to active and fluid negotiations of trade agreements are likely to contribute to increased opportunities for specialised EM hedge funds. Investors are likely to benefit from funds with hedged positions across various asset classes, through dislocations and mean reversions in H2 2017.”
