Stockholm (HedgeNordic) – Hedge funds generated positive returns in all twelve months of 2017, an achievement not observed for more than a decade.
According to analytics firm eVestment, hedge funds generated positive returns for the 14th consecutive month in the concluding month of 2017, with the December return of 0.9% extending the full-year aggregate return to 8.8%. This compares favourably with the 5.7% return generated in 2016 and the 0.7% loss incurred in 2015.
eVestment data show the hedge fund industry has not achieved a perfect calendar year since 1999. Additionally, more than 80% of the sector notched positive returns last year, with more than 60% of funds beating their 2016 performance figures. The funds that generated gains for the year produced an average return of nearly 14%.
A recent performance update issued by hedge fund data provider HFR also mentioned that hedge funds generated positive returns in every month of 2017, an achievement HFR last observed in 2003. The HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index gained 0.9% in December, bringing the full-year gain to 8.5%, the best yearly performance since 2013.
“Hedge funds successfully concluded 2017 with positive HFRI performance in every month, extended the record HFRI Index Value and increased the record total industry assets throughout the year, as the US economy accelerated, global equities expanded to record levels, and investor tolerance improved,” Kenneth J. Heinz, the President of HFR, said in a press release.
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