Final performance for the Credit Suisse/Tremont Hedge Fund Index was up 0.65 per cent in March, according to Credit Suisse Index.

Final performance for the Credit Suisse/Tremont Hedge Fund Index was up 0.65 per cent in March, according to Credit Suisse Index.

Hedge funds posted slight gains in March, bringing year-to-date returns to 0.85 per cent.  As markets continue to demonstrate volatility, hedge funds remain defensively positioned, which prevented some managers from fully capitalizing on last month's equity rally.

However, despite March gains, most equity indices are down for the year, while hedge funds' returns to date have been positive with far less volatility.

Emerging markets funds, in particular, performed well in March, returning 2.24 per cent as hedge fund managers benefited from stronger commodities markets and government fiscal stimulus plans.

Convertible arbitrage was up 1.14 per cent in March, while risk arbitrage was up 1.65 per cent and fixed income arbitrage up 1.74 per cent.

However, dedicated short bias fell -5.47 per cent, while managed futures was down -2.18 per cent.

Performance for the Credit Suisse/Tremont Hedge Fund Index and its ten sub-strategies is calculated monthly.

The following four funds are no longer reporting to the Credit Suisse/Tremont Hedge Fund Index: Kinyan Capital, JB Diversified Fixed Income Hedge Fund, Peloton Multi-Strategy Master Fund and The Dejima Fund.