December 2010 was the 6th consecutive month of positive returns for hedge funds, with the Eurekahedge Hedge Fund Index up 3.01%1 in the month.

Highlights from this month’s report are as follows:

• Hedge funds posted double-digit growth in 2010, up 10.93%, and outperformed underlying markets by 3.10%
  
• The global hedge fund industry grew by US$34.1 billion in December - total asset growth for the year stood at US$186.6 billion
  
• Total assets in the industry reach US$1.67 trillion and are on track to cross the historical high of US$1.95 trillion by end of 2011
  
• North America was the best performing hedge fund region in 2010 up 13.33% for the year and assets in North American hedge funds crossed US$1.1 trillion (67% of the total industry) for the first time since September 2008
  
• Japanese hedge funds posted their best annual returns in 5 years, up 8.43% in 2010, and crossed US$15 billion for the first time since 2008
  
• The Latin American hedge fund industry reaches a historical high of almost US$60 billion (Asia first reached US$60 billion in 2004 and went on to peak at US$ 176 billion 3 years later)
  
• All regional and strategic hedge fund indices in the Eurekahedge index suite delivered positive returns for the second year running
  
• Distressed debt was the best performing strategy in 2010 and finished the year with gains of 20.78%
  
• More than 50% of total asset flows in 2010 (US$37.1 billion) went to long/short equity funds, which constitute 31.2% of the total industry