HFR writes that both new hedge fund launches and liquidations fell sharply through mid-year as investors positioned for powerful trends of sharply increased interest rates, growing tensions involving AI acceleration, and continued geopolitical risks impacting energy markets and global supply chains.
HFR writes that hedge funds gained in August, fully recovering their July decline, as global bond markets came under pressure and interest rates rose to historic highs, while the outlook for resolution of the Iran military conflict remained cloudy.
Hedge funds declined in July to post their first monthly loss since March, driven by weakness in Technology and AI equities, as well as deterioration in the outlook for a near term resolution of the Iran military conflict, giving rise to a sharp increase in oil and energy prices.
HFR reports that hedge funds gained in June, posting their third consecutive monthly advance, driven by record equity levels, rising investor optimism, falling energy prices and hedge fund exposure to the record IPO of Space X.
Fortem Capital has announced the launch of the Fortem Capital Managed Futures Fund, a daily dealing UCITS strategy designed to provide investors with a more efficient way to access managed futures.
Hedge funds posted a historic performance surge in April, reversing a sharp March decline, with the HFRI generating its strongest gain since November 2020 and the second largest return since May 2009, according to Ken Heinz, HFR President.
Total global hedge fund industry capital pushed further above the historic USD5 trillion milestone, jumping for the 14th consecutive quarter in 1Q26 and extending to a new record USD5.22 trillion, as reported in the latest HFR Global Hedge Fund Industry Report.
Hedge funds posted a sharp decline in March as the Iran military conflict escalated and oil prices spiked, writes HFR, resulting in a historic surge in volatility and steep declines across equity and fixed income markets as investors re-priced risk and positioned for higher interest rates in 2026.
New hedge fund launches accelerated into 2026 while liquidations remained near historic lows, as investors positioned for increasing geopolitical risk, AI and cryptocurrency volatility, and uncertain economic growth and inflation in 2026 according to HFR.
Hedge fund performance gains accelerated through February, again driven by Macro and Equity Hedge funds, as complex risks evolved throughout the month, according to HFR.
