Tracking the average fund performance, the LuxHedge Global Alternative UCITS Index increased with +0.38% during July (+1.16% YTD). Performance was solid across the board and nearly all strategy style indices posted a gain last month.

In the Equity Hedge category, Long/Short Europe and Equity Market Neutral funds advanced with respectively +0.65% (+2.20% YTD) and +0.40% (+1.90% YTD). In line with a clear trend in the global hedge fund market, performance is led by Asia focussed funds  with the LuxHedge Equity Long/Short Asia index gaining +2.38% during July (+16.05% YTD). Event driven and Merger Arbitrage funds continue their 2017 winning streak, increasing +0.36% (4.47% YTD).

Fixed Income Arbitrage and Multi Strategy UCITS funds continued to perform relatively flat in July: Fixed Income Arbitrage UCITS +0.24% (1.36% YTD) and Multi Strategy UCITS +0.20% (+0.38% YTD).  Interestingly, July was the first month where CTA & Managed Futures funds recovered partly from their earlier 2017 losses: July +1.34% (YTD -3.21%). With both actual and implied volatility at very low levels, Volatility Arbitrage funds experienced another small loss in July: -0.15% (-0.36% YTD).

Alternative UCITS funds as a whole continued to gain in popularity with investors. Asset inflow into the space was strong again with total Assets Under Management reaching 438BEUR by end of July, an increase of +0.8% versus last month.

For further details, click here for the full July 2017 market overview