Hedge fund managers record modest returns as concerns surrounding the coronavirus outbreak escalate |
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The Eurekahedge Hedge Fund Index gained 0.17% in January, outperforming the underlying equity market as represented by the MSCI ACWI (Local), which lost 0.90% over the same period. Equity markets started the month on a positive note, supported by the de-escalation of the tension in the Middle East, and the signing of the US-China phase-one trade deal. The S&P 500 and the tech-heavy NASDAQ returned 1.97% and 2.29% respectively for the week ending January 17. However, market sentiment shifted quickly towards the end of the month, following the coronavirus outbreak in China. Investors feared that the epidemic, which draws parallel to the SARS outbreak in 2003 might significantly weigh on the global economic outlook. The Shenzhen and Shanghai benchmarks were down 8.45% and 7.72% on February 3, after the onshore markets reopened following the Chinese New Year holiday. The two market benchmarks partially recouped their losses over the following few days thanks to the liquidity injection introduced by the PBOC, as well as the tariff reduction on US imports. Over in Europe, the FTSE 100 ended January down 3.40%, underperforming other European equity markets as strong British pound weighed on UK equities. Returns were mixed across geographic mandates in January. Despite the weak performance of the equity markets in the region, fund managers focusing on Asia ex-Japan were up 1.29%, outperforming their North American and European peers who were down 0.30% and 0.24%, respectively. Japanese hedge funds lost 2.00% over the month of January, underperforming their regional peers. Across strategies, CTA/managed futures, fixed income and distressed debt fund managers were up 0.76%, 0.74%, and 0.61% respectively throughout the month. Roughly 58.7% of the underlying constituents of the Eurekahedge Hedge Fund Index posted positive returns in January, and 37.6% of the hedge fund managers in the database were able to end 2019 with double-digit returns. |
Below are the key highlights for the month of January 2020 |
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Index of the Month | Jan 2020* |
2019 Returns | 2018 Returns |
---|---|---|---|
Eurekahedge Greater China Long Short Equities Hedge Fund Index | -0.40 | 14.77 | -14.74 |
Main Indices
Main Eurekahedge Indices | Jan 2020* |
2019 Returns | 2018 Returns |
---|---|---|---|
Eurekahedge Hedge Fund Index | 0.17 | 8.66 | -3.87 |
Eurekahedge Fund of Funds Index | 0.92 | 8.79 | -4.36 |
Eurekahedge Long-only Absolute Return Fund Index | -0.63 | 16.16 | -10.86 |
Eurekahedge Islamic Fund Index | -0.65 | 10.09 | -4.65 |
Regional Indices
Eurekahedge Regional Indices | Jan 2020* |
2019 Returns | 2018 Returns |
---|---|---|---|
Eurekahedge North American Hedge Fund Index | -0.30 | 9.05 | -3.06 |
Eurekahedge European Hedge Fund Index | -0.24 | 7.64 | -4.57 |
Eurekahedge Eastern Europe & Russia Hedge Fund Index | -0.65 | 17.49 | -12.86 |
Eurekahedge Japan Hedge Fund Index | -2.00 | 6.44 | -9.32 |
Eurekahedge Emerging Markets Hedge Fund Index | 1.00 | 12.66 | -5.44 |
Eurekahedge Asia ex Japan Hedge Fund Index | 1.29 | 12.04 | -9.28 |
Eurekahedge Latin American Hedge Fund Index | 1.58 | 15.94 | 6.68 |
North American fund managers were down 0.30% in January. The gains of the equity market in the region driven by the development of the US-China trade progress and strong corporate earnings were substantially offset by the losses caused by the concerns surrounding the coronavirus outbreak. Over in Asia, fund managers with Asia ex-Japan investment mandate ended the month up 1.29%, while the Japan-focused hedge funds ended the month down 2.00%.
Strategy Indices
Returns were mixed across strategic mandates in January with AI and long volatility mandates up 2.18% and 1.11% respectively, as the latter were supported by the heightened market volatility throughout the latter half of the month. Fixed income managers were also up 0.74%, as global government bonds rallied over the month. Meanwhile, equity long bias managers were down 0.49% in January, contrary to they topped the table with 16.73% return over 2019.
Table 1: Strategy return map
Eurekahedge Strategy Indices | Jan 2020* |
2019 Returns | 2018 Returns |
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Eurekahedge Arbitrage Hedge Fund Index | 0.49 | 5.73 | -0.56 |
Eurekahedge CTA/Managed Futures Hedge Fund Index | 0.76 | 5.47 | -3.55 |
Eurekahedge Distressed Debt Hedge Fund Index | 0.61 | 2.19 | 3.25 |
Eurekahedge Event Driven Hedge Fund Index | -0.73 | 7.23 | -2.82 |
Eurekahedge Fixed Income Hedge Fund Index | 0.74 | 7.85 | 0.20 |
Eurekahedge Long Short Equities Hedge Fund Index | -0.35 | 11.23 | -6.26 |
Eurekahedge Macro Hedge Fund Index | -0.04 | 8.66 | -2.81 |
Eurekahedge Multi-Strategy Hedge Fund Index | 0.51 | 7.97 | -3.89 |
Eurekahedge Relative Value Hedge Fund Index | 0.11 | 4.90 | -0.15 |
CBOE Eurekahedge Long Volatility Hedge Fund Index | 1.11 | -10.96 | 0.83 |
CBOE Eurekahedge Relative Value Volatility Hedge Fund Index | 0.45 | -1.61 | -3.91 |
CBOE Eurekahedge Short Volatility Hedge Fund Index | -1.60 | 7.83 | -13.03 |
CBOE Eurekahedge Tail Risk Hedge Fund Index | 0.47 | -10.53 | -5.75 |
Eurekahedge Equity Long Bias Hedge Fund Index | -0.49 | 16.73 | -9.38 |
Eurekahedge Equity Market Neutral Hedge Fund Index | -0.31 | 1.70 | -1.90 |
Eurekahedge Trend Following Index | 0.21 | 5.70 | -6.72 |
Eurekahedge FX Hedge Fund Index | -0.78 | 1.61 | -0.23 |
Eurekahedge Commodity Hedge Fund Index | -1.46 | 8.13 | -5.53 |
Eurekahedge Crypto-Currency Hedge Fund Index | 20.49 | 16.41 | -71.81 |
Eurekahedge AI Hedge Fund Index | 2.18 | 6.53 | -4.31 |
Eurekahedge ILS Advisers Index | 0.64 | 0.92 | -3.92 |
Eurekahedge Global Hedge Fund Indices by Fund Size | Jan 2020* |
2019 Returns | 2018 Returns |
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Eurekahedge Small Hedge Fund Index (< US$100m) | -0.05 | 8.56 | -4.55 |
Eurekahedge Medium Hedge Fund Index (US$100m - US$500m) | 0.39 | 8.83 | -3.06 |
Eurekahedge Large Hedge Fund Index (> US$500m) | 0.55 | 8.77 | -2.33 |
Eurekahedge Billion Dollar Hedge Fund Index | 0.58 | 8.43 | -2.50 |
Mizuho-Eurekahedge Indices | Jan 2020* |
2019 Returns | 2018 Returns |
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Mizuho-Eurekahedge Index - USD | -0.28 | 6.97 | -4.30 |
Mizuho-Eurekahedge TOP100 Index - USD | -0.46 | 6.85 | -2.71 |
Mizuho-Eurekahedge TOP300 Index - USD | -0.30 | 7.06 | -3.56 |
Asia-Eurekahedge Indices | Jan 2020* |
2019 Returns | 2018 Returns |
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Eurekahedge Greater China Hedge Fund Index | 0.56 | 16.04 | -13.03 |
Eurekahedge India Hedge Fund Index | 2.77 | 1.54 | -7.77 |
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