5 May 2011
Asian-focused hedge funds posted steady gains in the first quarter of 2011, a volatile quarter for Asian financial markets dominated a continuum of dramatic developments, including economic, financial, environmental, social and secular. Capital invested in the Asian hedge fund industry increased by over $4.6 Billion to approximately $88.1 Billion (JPY: 7.15 Trillion; Chinese Yuan: 573 Billion) to reach the highest level since peaking in 2Q08, according to Chicago-based HFR.
Japanese-focused hedge funds lead other Asian regions in 1Q11, with the HFRX Japan Index gaining +0.51% for the quarter; this result is inclusive of a decline of -3.34% in March. Asian market volatility spiked in mid-March, with Nikkei declining over -15% intra-month while the Japanese Yen appreciated sharply to a 15 year high against the US dollar. Encompassing the Asian region more broadly, the HFRX Asia Composite Index posted a narrow gain of +0.02% for the quarter; the broad-based HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index posted a gain of +1.7% for 1Q11.
Investors allocated over $3.6 Billion in net new capital to Asian hedge funds in 1Q11, which represents morethan 10% of the $32 Billion in new capital allocated to hedge funds globally in the quarter.This marks the largest quarterly inflow of capital to Asian hedge funds since HFR began publishing Asia-specific capital flows. The number of hedge funds investing primarily in Asia increased to 1055 funds, also the highest number since 2Q08.
Hedge funds investing primarily in Developed Asia produced a wide dispersion of performance for the month of March; nearly 40% of these produced positive performance whileless than 5% posted losseslarger than the decline of the Nikkei 225. Outside of Developed Asia, the HFRI Emerging Markets: Asia ex-Japan Indexgained +2.33% in March, ending 1Q11 with a decline of -1.72%.
Japanese-focused hedge funds lead other Asian regions in 1Q11, with the HFRX Japan Index gaining +0.51% for the quarter; this result is inclusive of a decline of -3.34% in March. Asian market volatility spiked in mid-March, with Nikkei declining over -15% intra-month while the Japanese Yen appreciated sharply to a 15 year high against the US dollar. Encompassing the Asian region more broadly, the HFRX Asia Composite Index posted a narrow gain of +0.02% for the quarter; the broad-based HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index posted a gain of +1.7% for 1Q11.
Investors allocated over $3.6 Billion in net new capital to Asian hedge funds in 1Q11, which represents morethan 10% of the $32 Billion in new capital allocated to hedge funds globally in the quarter.This marks the largest quarterly inflow of capital to Asian hedge funds since HFR began publishing Asia-specific capital flows. The number of hedge funds investing primarily in Asia increased to 1055 funds, also the highest number since 2Q08.
Hedge funds investing primarily in Developed Asia produced a wide dispersion of performance for the month of March; nearly 40% of these produced positive performance whileless than 5% posted losseslarger than the decline of the Nikkei 225. Outside of Developed Asia, the HFRI Emerging Markets: Asia ex-Japan Indexgained +2.33% in March, ending 1Q11 with a decline of -1.72%.
“Asian hedge funds, and particularly those focusing primarily on Developed Asian equity and currency markets, demonstrated both tactical flexibility and opportunistic exposure adjustments by preserving early quarter gains through the volatile March period,” said Kenneth J. Heinz, President of HFR. “As the Japanese economy begins the processof recovery from the natural and environmental crises, the Asian hedge fund industry represents a powerful marketplace for global investors to access this recovery and for Asian institutions to access global investment capital.”
