Managed futures traders lost 1.52 per cent in August, according to the Barclay CTA Index compiled by BarclayHedge.

The index is up 0.62 per cent year to date.
 
“Fed chairman Yellen’s unexpectedly hawkish comments at the Jackson Hole symposium precipitated trend reversals in global bond and currency markets,” says Sol Waksman (pictured), founder and president of BarclayHedge.
 
All eight of Barclay’s CTA indices lost ground in August. The Diversified Traders Index was down 2.43 per cent, Systematic Traders lost 1.94 per cent, Financial/Metals Traders were down 1.03 per cent, and Currency Traders slipped 0.39 per cent.
 
“Commodity markets had a small loss by the end of the month, with the CRB Index down 0.34 per cent,” says Waksman. “A 4 per cent rally in the first half of the month was erased by declines in the second half, and the cross-currents proved difficult to navigate profitably.”
 
Year to date, the Financial/Metals Traders Index is up 2.39 per cent, Currency Traders have gained 1.21 per cent, Systematic Traders are up 0.87 per cent, and the Diversified Traders Index has gained 0.49 per cent.
 
Two CTA indices have negative returns for the year. Agricultural Traders are down 1.85 per cent through August, and the Discretionary Traders Index has lost 1.65 per cent.