Absolute Returns

JPY and Japanese equities were the outcast of the rally, in diffidence of Abenomics’ and BoJ’s chances of success. They bear a risk of a reversal ahead of the coming BoJ meetings (April 28 & June 16) and the July Upper House election.

The Lyxor Hedge Fund Index was up +0.3% in March. 9 out of 11 Lyxor Indices ended the month in positive territory. The Lyxor LS Equity Long Bias Index (+2.3%), the Lyxor Fixed Income Arbitrage Index (+2.1%), and the Lyxor Special Situations Index (+1.4%) were the best performers.

According to Anthony Lawler, portfolio manager at GAM noted, the volatility year-to-date has proved challenging for active managers who were generally hurt in January and February before recovering with some gains in March. Many had trimmed exposures in January and early February before the rebound and were unable to benefit in size from the subsequent rally...

Over two thirds of respondents of the Deutsche Bank annual Alternative Investment Survey invest in systematic strategies, including one in every two who plan to add to one or more quantitative sub-strategies in 2016. The largest investment consultants and pension funds are driving demand: 45% of these respondents plan to add to one or more systematic strategies, including quantitative equity market neutral, CTA, quantitative macro, quantitative equity and quantitative multi-strategy.

The recent CTA performances encourage institutional investors to more closely monitor this type of hedge fund. Thus, according to Preqin, 52% of them wish to increase their exposure to this type of alternative strategy this year (vs 14% last year).