Hedge funds were up for the second month running in August, amid positive movements in underlying markets. The Eurekahedge Hedge Fund Index was up 0.63%1 during the month, bringing its year-to-date (YTD) return to a healthy 3.16%. Comparatively the MSCI World Index gained 1.64%2 on the back of increasing prospects of quantitative easing and positive US economic data – with its YTD gain standing at 7.79%.
Total assets under management (AUM) increased by US$7.8 billion during the month, bringing the size of the industry to US$1.74 trillion. Hedge funds posted performance-based gains of US$2.9 billion as most strategies were profitable during the month. After three months of net redemptions, the industry also witnessed healthy allocation activity with net positive asset flows of US$5 billion as investor sentiment turned positive.
