Indices and Reports

Investors continued to allocate capital to liquid alternative strategies during the first quarter, according to Q1 2017 edition of the Wilshire Liquid Alternatives Industry Monitor, although the net number of funds fell.

Liquid alternatives rose in March along with their traditional hedge fund brethren, according to new research from Wilshire Associates, as the company's Wilshire Liquid Alternative Index slightly outperformed its comparable hedge fund industry benchmark during the period.

Hedge funds were broadly positive in March, booking the fifth positive month in a row and the thirteenth in the last fourteen, according to new data from research provider eVestment. 

Hedge funds largely weathered a number of headwinds in March, including a Fed interest rate hike, Trump's stumble with U.S. healthcare and the official start of the Brexit process, according to early data from Eurekahedge.

Hedge funds edged minimally higher for the second straight week, according to Lyxor Asset Management’s latest Weekly Brief, as global macro managers benefitted from long-standing positions in U.S. dollar, energy, and European equity markets. 

Hedge funds advanced again in March, adding to a period of extended positive performance that has seen Hedge Fund Research’s broadest benchmark index rise for five consecutive months and in 12 months out of the last 13 months.

Results from a late 2016 poll show that Investors in Asia remain more upbeat about hedge funds than their peers in other parts of the world, despite plans to reduce their allocations in the short-term. 

Private equity-backed buyout deal activity fell in the first quarter of 2017, according to new data from Preqin, with 970 transactions announced for an aggregate $53 billion compared with 1,058 financings worth a combined $89 billion in the preceding period.

Broad measures of hedge fund performance stayed in the winning column in March – albeit barely – despite an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve and mixed performance on global financial markets, according to recent data from Hedge Fund Research.

Hedge funds eked out a minor gain last week as both bonds and stocks did well, according to Lyxor Asset Management’s Weekly Brief, although substrategy performance was mixed and CTAs continued to slip.