The Eurekahedge Hedge Fund Index closed the month of September up 6 basis points1 (and 6.3% year to date) amidst a moderately slowing US economy, a sharp drop in energy and commodity prices, and continued strength in equities and treasuries as the markets continued to conjecture that the Federal Reserve is done raising rates. There was also a major hedge-fund-industry-specific market event during the month – the liquidation of the significant portfolio of Amaranth Advisors, which was hurt by plummeting natural gas prices – and this played catalyst to a spate of liquidity-driven selling that proved beneficial to a few hedge fund strategies such as arbitrage and distressed debt, especially among North American managers.
But on the whole, Asia ex Japan was the best performing region for the month (the Eurekahedge Asia ex Japan Hedge Fund Index closed the month up an impressive 2%) given the positive effects of the fallout in oil prices for economies that are heavy importers of oil. Latin American funds had to contend with volatile markets owing to the uncertainty surrounding the Brazilian presidential elections, and posted slightly lesser returns in comparison.
