Both hedge funds and risk parity strategies gained in August despite rising tensions with North Korea and the impact of Hurricane Harvey, with Equity Hedge and Macro strategies leading the HFRI to the tenth consecutive monthly advance, and the 17th in the trailing 18 months.
The HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index gained +0.8 per cent for the month, bringing YTD performance to 5.5 per cent, according to data released today by HFR, the established global leader in the indexation, analysis and research of the global hedge fund industry. August performance topped small gains for the DJIA and S&P 500, as well as most developed European regional equity markets, and also increased the Index Value to 13,662, the ninth consecutive record level.
The HFRI Asset Weighted Composite posted a slightly stronger gain of 0.9 per cent for August, bringing 2017 YTD performance to +4.5 per cent. The HFRI Fund of Funds Composite Index was up 1.2 per cent, the strongest monthly advance since July 2016.
The newly-launched HFR Risk Parity Indices saw even stronger gains, as the HFR Risk Parity Vol 10 Index produced 2.0 per cent return for August, bringing YTD performance to +8.9 per cent. Similarly, the HFR Risk Parity Vol 15 Index advanced 2.9 per cent in the month, bringing YTD performance to +12.8 per cent.
Despite rising geopolitical tensions and Hurricane Harvey, Macro funds led overall hedge fund performance in August, as the HFRI Macro (Total) Index advanced 1.03 per cent, led by Commodity and quantitative, trend-following CTA strategies. The HFRI Macro: Commodity Index climbed +1.0 per cent, while the HFRI Macro: Systematic Diversified Index gained +1.4 per cent. The HFRI Macro Index (Asset Weighted) was up +1.2 per cent in August.
Equity Hedge strategies also advanced in August, with the HFRI Equity Hedge (Total) Index advancing 0.96 per cent, bringing YTD gains through August to +8.5 per cent, leading all hedge fund strategies. EH sub-strategy returns were led by the HFRI EH: Technology Index, which climbed 2.3 per cent, bringing YTD performance to a gain of 12.5 per cent. Similarly, the HFRI EH: Healthcare Index gained 2.0 per cent, bringing the YTD return to +12.9 per cent. The HFRI Equity Hedge Index (Asset Weighted) was up 1.6 per cent in August.
Fixed income-based Relative Value Arbitrage funds also advanced for the period, leading the HFRI Relative Value (Total) Index to a gain of 0.3 per cent, the 18th consecutive month without posting a decline. RVA sub-strategy performance was led by the HFRI Asset-Backed Index and the HFRI RV: Volatility Index, which gained 0.9 and 0.8 per cent, respectively, in August.
Event-Driven strategies produced a narrow gain for the month, with the HFRI Event-Driven (Total) Index advancing 0.03 per cent, increasing its YTD return to +4.9 per cent. ED sub-strategy performance was led by the HFRI ED: Special Situations Index, which returned +0.7 per cent for month, partially offset by a decline of 2.1 per cent in the HFRI ED: Activist Index.
“Hedge fund gains were led by equity and trend-following exposures in August, as intra-month volatility increased as a result of escalating tensions regarding North Korea and the energy and commodity-centric impact of Hurricane Harvey,” says Kenneth J Heinz (pictured), President of HFR. “Risk Parity strategies also gained in August despite modest changes in yields and mixed equity market performance, highlighting the important role of these within an institutional portfolio allocation. With risk and uncertainty continuing through H2 2017 around both domestic and foreign policy issues, including tax reform legislation, the prospect of military conflict, and the intermediate term impact of additional natural disasters, both hedge funds and risk parity strategies will continue to represent valuable tactical portfolio exposures for institutional allocators.”
