Most Hedge Fund Indices Agree On Early 2005 Results

by Carla Johnson, Investors Offshore.com

22 March 2005

HedgeFund.net-PerTrac Universes has reported that hedge funds were up an average of 1.70% in February, and 1.37% year to date. The top 25% of hedge funds gained an average of 2.31% in February (2.65% year to date), while the bottom 25% of hedge funds were up an average of 0.19% in February (down 0.73% year to date).

HedgeFund.net-PerTrac Universes chart the roughly 4,300 hedge funds that report their performances to the Web site. There are thought to be about 10,000 hedge funds in total.

The HedgeFund.net-PerTrac Universes are available through PerTrac Online, a subscription-based hedge fund analysis toolset available exclusively to accredited, registered investors by HedgeFund.net.

A Reuters poll of funds of funds published last week shows that hedge funds are expected to make moderate profits over the coming months, with European stock markets seen as a particularly good investment in the short-term. The survey of 15 funds of hedge funds, which together manage some $66.5 billion, forecast average to slightly below average positive returns over the coming six months. Expectations were broadly unchanged from the previous two polls, in October and December.

The Van Global Hedge Fund Index produced a February return of 1.6% net of fees according to hedge fund consultant Van Hedge Fund Advisors International. February’s gain comes on the heels of a slight loss in January, bringing the year-to-date return for the Index up to 1.5% net. The Index represents the average return of hedge funds tracked by VAN and serves as one of the hedge fund industry’s longest running benchmarks of overall performance.

Other indices have returned broadly similar figures for January and February.

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