Managed futures funds produced a third straight positive month in April returning 1.43%, according to the Barclay CTA Index, compiled by BarclayHedge, a division of Backstop Solutions. For the year to date, CTAs returned 3.80% through April.
Opalesque Industry Update - Managed futures funds turned in a second consecutive monthly gain in March returning 0.32%, according to the Barclay CTA Index, compiled by BarclayHedge, a division of Backstop Solutions. For the year to date, CTAs returned 2.29% through March. A strengthening U.S. dollar and a continuing uptrend in equity markets helped fuel CTA gains in March. The $1.9 trillion Covid Relief bill fed deficit concerns and ignited a rise in U.S. interest rates which, in turn, sparked appeal in USD carry trades against negative yielding currencies, said Sol Waksman, president of BarclayHedge.
All but two of the sectors tracked in the Barclay CTA Indices were in positive territory for March. The Cryptocurrency Traders Index led the way for the month, returning 10.95%. Other notable March gainers included the MPI Barclay Elite Systematic Traders Index, up 1.10%, the Financial & Metal Traders Index, returning 0.43%, the Agricultural Traders Index, advancing 0.42%, and
Barclay CTA Index gains 1 76 in February opalesque.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from opalesque.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The flash estimate for the Barclay CTA Index, compiled by BarclayHedge, indicates a 0.24% loss in May. Year to date, the Index is down 1.76%.
“Large system traders were the hardest hit by trend reversals in fixed income, energy, sugar and cocoa prices,” says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge.
The new MPI Barclay Elite Systematic Traders Index (MBEST) lost 1.85% in May, Diversified Traders were down 0.64%, Financials and Metals Traders lost 0.44%, and Systematic Traders gave up 0.44%.
“The larger funds are not as nimble and can impact prices more than their smaller brethren when market positions need to be reversed,” says Waksman.
Opalesque Industry Update - CTAs were unable to extend their two-month winning streak into the New Year as January performance dipped 0.02% for the month according to the Barclay CTA Index compiled by BarclayHedge, a division of Backstop Solutions. Although equity prices and commodity markets such as energy, crops and base metals continued higher in January, the profits were insufficient to overcome losses generated by long positions in U.S. Treasuries as interest rates rose, said Sol Waksman, president of BarclayHedge.
Most sectors tracked in the Barclay CTA Indices were in the black for January. The Cryptocurrency Traders Index led the way returning 26.99% while the Agricultural Traders Index was up 0.93% and the Discretionary Traders Index gained 0.74%. The Currency Traders Index advanced 0.41% in January while the Diversified Traders Index rose 0.07%.