Review of Market Performance: Calendar Year 2018
Myriad rising risks weighed on performance in 2018, leaving investors few places to hide among the sea of red.
Hedge Funds
Hedge Fund Update: Third Quarter 2018
Following a more gradual climb in first half 2018, US equities appreciated materially in third quarter, ending September just off record highs set in the prior weeks. The S&P 500 Index returned 7.7% in third quarter and 10.6% year-to-date; by comparison, the Russell 2000® Index returned 3.6% and 11.5%, respectively. All Global Industry Classification Standard…
US Manager Universe Statistics: Third Quarter 2018
This chart book presents representative long-only and hedge fund manager performance for third quarter 2018.
Alternative Risk Premia Funds: An Attractive Diversifier? (Sterling Edition)
Elevated equity market valuations and potentially rising bond yields suggest the return environment for traditional risk assets could be difficult. Faced with this challenge, institutional investors are seeking alternative sources of return. Alternative risk premia (ARP) strategies – which harvest well-established risk premia and market anomalies across asset classes – may fit the bill. ARP…
Hedge Fund Update: Second Quarter 2018
Developed markets equities rose steadily in second quarter despite negative geopolitical developments and increased tensions on the trade front. In this quarter’s update, we look at the environment and opportunity set for event-driven strategies, highlighting conditions that have fostered a constructive outlook for merger arbitrage in particular. We also explore hedge fund managers’ increasing use of activist campaigns as a tool to effect corporate change and improve shareholder returns, both in the United States and abroad.
US Manager Universe Statistics: Second Quarter 2018
This chart book presents representative long-only and hedge fund manager performance for second quarter 2018. The median US Small-Cap Growth manager posted the highest median return for both second quarter 2018 (8.7%) and the one-year period ending June 30, 2018 (25.4%). The median Emerging and Frontier Markets Equity manager posted the lowest median return for second quarter 2018, returning -8.6%, and the median Emerging Markets Debt manager suffered the worst performance for the one-year period ending June 30, 2018 (-1.6%).
Review of Market Performance: Fiscal Year 2018
Equity markets and commodity-related assets outperformed other asset classes, while monetary policy expectations continued to negatively impact bond markets during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. This brief chart book looks at returns and other market metrics for fiscal year 2018.
Hedge Fund Update: First Quarter 2018
Global equity markets marched upward to start the year, and many indexes reached new all-time highs in late January, only to drop sharply when volatility returned with a vengeance beginning the last week of that month. In this quarter’s update, we look at the volatility and dispersion that broadly characterized the period for fundamental hedge fund strategies, while highlighting the churn that affected managed futures and particularly trend following systems.
US Manager Universe Statistics: First Quarter 2018
This chart book presents representative long-only and hedge fund manager performance for first quarter 2018. The median Global ex US Bonds manager posted the highest median return for first quarter 2018, returning 3.5%. Global ex US Small-Cap Equity managers posted the best returns for the one-year period ending March 31, 2018, with a median return of 26.4%. The median US REITs manager posted the lowest median return for both first quarter 2018 (-6.5%) and for the one-year period ending March 31, 2018 (-1.1%).
Hedge Fund Update: Fourth Quarter 2017
Global risk assets appreciated materially in fourth quarter 2017 and for the year as a whole, and US equity indexes once again ended both the quarter and calendar year near historic highs. This quarter, we examine the cyclicality of recent performance trends and consider what the future may hold for event-driven strategies.