If you think hedge funds were bad in July, just look at their August numbers. Hedge funds reached new lows last month surpassing July as the poorest month in 2007 for the performance of hedge fund strategies, according to the latest figures from the Dow Jones Hedge Fund Indexes

Only one of the six strategies (merger arbitrage) covered by the index posted any net-of-fees gains (0.42%) last month. The strategy is up 14.59% for the year.

Other strategies such as convertible arbitrage, distressed securities, equity long/short and equity market neutral fell in August, declining more than 1%, while event driven was down -0.21% for the month.

On the bright side, all the strategies are still up for the year.