The Eurekahedge Hedge Fund Index was down 0.17% in April; a month that saw risk-aversion return to global markets. Most regional mandates provided downside protection to their investors and outperformed the underlying market indices with the average hedge fund manager finishing the month ahead by 1.45%.

Amid an environment of increasing uncertainty in the markets, the Latin American hedge fund space has provided investors with continued growth and consistent performance. Since its inception in December 1999 the Eurekahedge Latin American Hedge Fund Index has gained 538.22%.

Fabrice Cuchet of Dexia Asset Management shares the firm's investment principle as well as their outlook on the global markets.

With mounting competition on the ground, Brazil-based fund managers are increasingly looking to attract international investors, giving rise to the rapid growth of the offshore Latin American asset base.

In early April 2012, President Obama signed into law two separate acts that will have a profound effect on hedge funds. The implications of these two new laws, the JOBS Act and the STOCK Act represent significant changes to the regulations governing the offering process for private funds and the manner in which issuers may conduct these offerings.

The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (Directive 2011/61/EU) (AIFM Directive) sets out new rules that are being introduced in the European Union (EU) in respect of the authorisation, operation, and ongoing reporting for managers of alternative investment funds (AIFMs) which manage and/or market alternative investment funds (AIFs) in the various member-state countries of the EU.

Raymond Davern, Dennis Ryan and David Pytches look at the ways in which the various types of trust products in each jurisdiction may be of interest to MENA families as succession planning vehicles.