International Investors Reduce Investments in Hedge Funds - AUM Drops by $29.1B

Hedge funds ended 2014 on a low according to research carried out by BarclayHedge and TrimTabs Investment Research. Figures dropped on a month-over-month basis in December with AUM reducing by $29.1 billion, or 1.2%. The move shows that investors looked beyond the glamorous world of managed funds and re-established their relationship with the global Equities Equities Equities can be characterized as stocks or shares in a company that investors can buy or sell. When you buy a stock, you are in essence buying an equity, becoming a partial owner of shares in a specific company or fund.However, equities do not pay a fixed interest rate, and as such are not considered guaranteed income. As such, equity markets are often associated with risk.When a company issues bonds, it’s taking loans from buyers. When a company offers shares, on the other hand, it’s selling pa Equities can be characterized as stocks or shares in a company that investors can buy or sell. When you buy a stock, you are in essence buying an equity, becoming a partial owner of shares in a specific company or fund.However, equities do not pay a fixed interest rate, and as such are not considered guaranteed income. As such, equity markets are often associated with risk.When a company issues bonds, it’s taking loans from buyers. When a company offers shares, on the other hand, it’s selling pa Read this Term markets as they explored safer asset classes.

Total investments in hedge funds were above $2.48 trillion in December. However, investors reduced their exposure to the riskier trading approach throughout the second half of 2014, reports showing that the first six months of 2014 were positive for the sector, with inflows of $87.5 billion.

Although the overall AUM was lower in December, two fund categories saw positive net inflows: the Equity Market Neutral funds, which absorbed $450 million, and the Equity Long Only funds, which took in $250 million, thus reinforcing investors' interest in equities-related offerings.

Sol Waksman, president and founder of BarclayHedge, commented in a statement: “Hedge funds shed $12.5 billion in the second half of 2014, a sharp turnabout from the inflow of $87.5 billion in the first half.

"The industry’s inflow of $75.3 billion for the whole year was little changed from last year’s inflow of $76.4 billion.”

The monthly TrimTabs/BarclayHedge Hedge Fund Flow Report showed that the hedge fund industry lost 0.4% in December, matching the S&P 500’s performance. In the past 12 months, hedge funds returned 2.9%, while the S&P 500 rose 11.4%.

The hedge fund industry has recently come under fire as investors explore alternative investments with slumbering performance.

Fueled by regulatory concerns, larger managers face an uphill struggle to adhere to Compliance Compliance In finance, banking, investing, and insurance compliance refers to following the rules or orders set down by the government regulatory authority, either as providing a service or processing a transaction. Compliance concerning finance would also be a state of being following established guidelines or specifications. This designation can also encompass efforts to ensure that organizations are abiding by both industry regulations and government legislation. Understanding ComplianceCompliance is a In finance, banking, investing, and insurance compliance refers to following the rules or orders set down by the government regulatory authority, either as providing a service or processing a transaction. Compliance concerning finance would also be a state of being following established guidelines or specifications. This designation can also encompass efforts to ensure that organizations are abiding by both industry regulations and government legislation. Understanding ComplianceCompliance is a Read this Term and regulatory rulings. Since the new Dodd Frank Act came into practice in 2010, hedge fund managers that hold $100 million or more in funds have to register with the financial watchdog, thus enabling the regulator to exercise great supervision on larger funds.

The recent Swiss franc debacle caused shockwaves in the asset management industry with several managers facing significant losses. London-based COMAC was on the wrong side of the Swiss trade with losses of 8% according to Reuters. The fund was returning $1 billion to investors. Everest Capital’s $830 million was on the hit list as the Swiss central bank exercised its powers in protecting its economy by lifting the floor.

The aftermath of the SNB crisis continues to unfold as brokers and hedge funds gradually come out of their negative shells, the market is expected to operate in a fragile manner over the next few months as currencies pegged to the dollar join the uncertain territory.