Paul O'Connor, Head of Multi-Asset, gives an update on the risks and opportunities in the run-up to the June EU referendum. With less than 40 days until the vote, opinion polls are fairly stable and suggest “remain” will be the outcome. However, the material risk of “Brexit” has resulted in the following action across their portfolios...

Hedge funds' returns weakened in sympathy with last week's retreat in risky assets. Losses were mild in general, with few notable underperformers. By contrast, CTAs outperformed, recouping their earlier losses as yields and oil weakened. Funds keeping a low beta also performed well, the neutral and variable equity funds especially.

There has been much discussion over the recent weeks on the outflows suffered by the hedge fund industry. Several data providers estimated the decline in global hedge fund capital in the first quarter of 2016 at about USD 15bn.

These fees are far from being insignificant for investor returns. According to Duncan Wilkinson, CEO of Alpha Simplex, more and more hedge fund managers, especially in the United States, have decided to offer products without any performance fees; a trend that should gradually take place in Europe...

The Lyxor Hedge Fund Index was up +0.3% in March. 9 out of 11 Lyxor Indices ended the month in positive territory. The Lyxor LS Equity Long Bias Index (+2.3%), the Lyxor Fixed Income Arbitrage Index (+2.1%), and the Lyxor Special Situations Index (+1.4%) were the best performers.