Managed futures gained 1.90 per cent in September, according to the Barclay CTA Index compiled by BarclayHedge.

The index is now up 2.45 per cent after three quarters in 2010.

“The best September for equities since WWII, a robust rally in commodities, and a deteriorating US dollar all joined forces to create a profitable trading environment for CTAs,” says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge.

All of Barclay’s eight CTA indices had gains in September. The Barclay Diversified Traders Index gained 3.20 per cent, agricultural traders were up 2.94 per cent, systematic traders rose 2.29 per cent, and discretionary traders gained 2.04 per cent.

“Aided by a weakening US dollar, prices for crude oil and its refined products, precious and industrial metals, and most grain markets surged during the month, fueling a more than eight percent rise in the Reuters CRB Commodity Index,” says Waksman. “Seventy-three per cent of the CTAs who have reported returns for September recorded a profitable month.”

The Barclay Agricultural Traders Index leads all managed futures strategies in 2010. After three quarters, agricultural traders have gained 7.33 per cent. Currency traders are up 2.89 per cent, and financial and metals traders have gained 2.86 per cent.

The Barclay BTOP50 Index, which monitors performance of the largest traders, rose 1.64 per cent in September, and has gained 4.59 per cent in the first nine months of 2010.