Since early December, Merger Arbitrage and L/S Equity Market Neutral has outperformed, while L/S Equity remains under pressure. Relative Value Arbitrage was resilient. Based on a peer group of 28 onshore L/S Credit strategies, the median performance was -0.3% month-to-date (up until December 12th) and -1.3% quarter-to-date.

Nordea Asset Management announces the launch on 06 December 2018, the Nordea 1 – European Long/Short Equity Fund (‘the Fund”). The Fund is a liquid alternative strategy designed for investors searching for yields higher than traditional fixed income products, while at the same time seeking lower volatility than long-only equity funds.

L/S Equity and Event-Driven strategies underperformed due to their elevated market beta. L/S Equity strategies also suffered due to the rotation in risk factors which saw growth/ momentum stocks underperforming value and low beta stocks.

We are past the peak of the U.S. earnings reports. In the past, any unusually high individual stock volatility after an earnings announcement was a pattern that only appeared at macro inflection points.