Managed futures slipped 0.18 per cent in February, according to the Barclay CTA Index compiled by BarclayHedge.

Managed futures slipped 0.18 per cent in February, according to the Barclay CTA Index compiled by BarclayHedge.

'Conventional wisdom has determined that the economic recovery has been postponed until 2010,' says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge.

'Investors were only too willing to oblige by selling equities, commodities, and currencies other than the US Dollar during February. Sales of non-US equities by US dollar-based investors, coupled with a flight to quality in the currency market, helped to strengthen the Dollar.'

Only one managed futures strategy was profitable this month. The Barclay Agricultural Traders Index gained 0.19 per cent in February.

'Continued downward pressure on soybean and wheat prices provided welcome support for most agricultural traders' portfolios,' says Waksman.

After gaining 1.28 per cent in January, discretionary traders gave back 0.53 per cent in February. Diversified traders were down 0.29 per cent as well.

'A lack of consensus on whether we're headed for inflation or deflation increased uncertainly in interest rate markets, and that made February a difficult month for bond traders,' says Waksman.