Hedge funds experienced record net redemptions of $155 billion in 2008, which when combined with a performance decline of 18.3% for the HFRI Fund Weighted Composite index for the year, dropped total industry assets 25% to $1.4 trillion as of Dec. 31.
According to preliminary data from Hennessee Group LLC in New York, total hedge-fund assets declined by 39% to $1.21 trillion in 2008 — their lowest level since 2006.
The mysterious disappearance of a Florida hedge fund manager five days ago has prompted the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Securities and Exchange Commission to join the investigation, published reports said.
Actively managed equity mutual funds suffered record net outflows of $208.3 billion last year, while equity index funds enjoyed net inflows of $28 billion, according to estimates from Morningstar Inc.
Two trade groups that represent the investment management industry want the Securities and Exchange Commission to hold a public hearing on the liquidation plan for a money market fund that collapsed in September.
Grail Advisors LLC said today that it has filed a registration statement for two actively managed exchange traded funds, the Grail American Beacon International Equity ETF and the Grail American Beacon Large Cap Value ETF.
The two money management operations have been divisions of the same parent company since last January when Rydex of Rockville, Md., was acquired by Security Benefit Corp. of Topeka, Kan.
The number of properties facing foreclosure proceedings jumped 81% and the number of American households losing their homes through foreclosure surged 66% in 2008, according to two studies.
Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. of Tokyo today announced the launch of Nomura Partners Funds Inc., a group of mutual funds with an Asian and global focus.
Putnam Investments of Boston today announced that it has launched four target absolute-return mutual funds designed to seek annualized total returns of 1%, 3%, 5% or 7% above those of U.S. Treasuries over a period of three years or more.
Foreign investors plan to spend significantly more money on U.S. real estate in 2009 than they did last year.
Last year was among the worst ever in the history of hedge funds, with $210 billion in losses during the third quarter alone, 693 funds closed through Sept. 30 and an average 16% decline through November.
Financial advisers will likely be drawn to the allure of exchange traded funds in 2009, thanks to an anticipated rise in open-end mutual fund expenses, according to industry experts.
Historically low interest rates, coupled with a torrent of new cash from investors, are forcing many mutual fund companies to close the doors on their Treasury money market funds.
Although most funds performed dismally last year, a Vanguard fund and its exchange traded fund share class bucked the trend with spectacular results, returning more than 50%.
Wash sale rules prohibit an investor from recognizing a loss for tax purposes if securities are sold and "substantially identical" securities are purchased within 31 days.
