New York (HedgeCo.net) – Thet October edition of the Hedgebay index reports that the highest average trade price in six months may signal the return of stability to the secondary hedge fund market.
“The patterns we see in secondary market trading are so often based on investor sentiment. ” Elias Tueta, co-founder of Hedgebay, said, “It is extremely difficult for investors to be secure about committing to trades when price valuation is so volatile, as it has been over the last six months. The steady rises over the last couple of months may bring a bit of added confidence to investors for the rest of the year.”
October’s average of 81% is the second consecutive monthly rise shown by the index, after averages of 74% and 78% in August and September respectively. Though still some way off the YTD peak of 91%, October’s figures show that the hedge fund market is moving steadily in the right direction.
However, warned that price volatility will continue to occur as along as correct valuation of assets remains a problem for secondary market users.
“At this stage, trading is being determined to too great a degree by forces external to the actual price of assets.” Tueta said, ” Liquidity demands, portfolio construction and other legacy issues have all played a role in the price that trades are being made at. These factors are all dependent on the individuals trading, rather than the basic statistics of valuation, and this is why we have seen such drastic price changes of late. Investors are still too limited by a lack of firm valuation to predict whether recent price rises could be a lasting condition. Until a means of fair valuation has been established in the market, uncertainty will remain.”
Trading on the SMI continued its recent pace, with brisk volume recorded throughout the month. With trading once again taking place across the full range of asset classes, the indications are that investors are managing their portfolio positions as the end of the year approaches. In contrast to the SMI, Hedgebay’s Illiquid Asset Index, which measures trading in gated or suspended funds, recorded a considerable drop to 34.50%. After the notable stability of recent months’ trading, this month’s price difference suggests that the presence of leverage has had a negative effect on trading this month and that the market is not as stable as originally thought.
Editing by Alex Akesson
