Managed futures gained 0.87 per cent in May, according to the Barclay CTA Index compiled by BarclayHedge.

The index is now up 0.21 per cent in 2014.
 
“An easing of macro concerns coupled with the European Central Bank’s efforts to head off deflation helped fuel rallies in equity and interest rate markets,” says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge.
 
All eight of Barclay’s CTA indices were in positive territory in May. The Agricultural Traders Index was up 2.45 per cent, Financial & Metals Traders gained 1.36 per cent, Systematic Traders were up 1.05 per cent, Discretionary Traders gained 0.72 per cent, and Diversified Traders added 0.69 per cent.
 
“Commodity markets were led lower by sharp declines in wheat, corn, and coffee prices,” says Waksman. “Prices for oil and industrial metals were able to buck the trend and registered gains on the month.”
 
In May, six of Barclay’s managed futures indices moved back into positive territory for the year. The BTOP50 Index has a 0.33 per cent return year to date, Agricultural Traders are up 0.51 per cent, Discretionary Traders have gained 0.20 per cent, Systematic Traders have returned 0.13 per cent, and Diversified Traders are up 0.06 per cent.
 
Currency Traders are still down 1.43 per cent for the year, and Financial & Metals Traders have lost 1.02 per cent.
 
The Barclay BTOP50 Index, which measures performance of the largest CTAs, gained 1.50 per cent in May.