Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia: The trend reversals in February hit equities, oils, and metals bringing losses to CTA strategies, according to Barclayhedge. The Barclay CTA Index fell 2.89% last month, extending year-to-date losses to 0.33%.
BarclayHedge president Sol Waksman commented, "Although the month was marked by a mix of trend extensions and trend reversals in key market sectors, reversals ruled and 77 percent of CTAs incurred losses in February."
He added that the Diversified Traders Index dropped 4.49% last month as systematic traders fell 3.67%, and financials/metals traders lost 1.90%.
"A record string of fifteen consecutive monthly gains for the S&P 500 ended with the Dow's worst ever daily loss, the ongoing rally in oil prices came to an abrupt end, and both precious and industrial metals prices traded lower at month end," Waksman added.
On the positive side, currency traders gained 0.86%, agricultural traders were up 0.37%, and discretionary traders added 0.23%.
After two months in 2018, the discretionary traders index has gained 1.43%, agricultural traders are up 1.26%, and financials/metals traders have a 0.49% positive return.
Systematic traders are down 0.28% year to date, and diversified traders have lost 0.18%.
The BTOP50 Index, which is composed of the largest CTAs open to new investment, dropped 5.35% in February, and is currently down 2.40...................... To view our full article Click here
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