New York (HedgeCo.net) – One of the biggest stories in the financial world for 2015 has been the huge decline in oil prices. Consumers have benefitted with the lowest gas prices in decades, but the consumers gain has been a problem for oil companies. For hedge funds, the decline in oil prices has hurt some and benefitted others, but most of the funds that have benefitted are those using computer-driven models.

A recent article from Reuters highlighted the funds that have performed well this year trading the oil market and mentioned a few that have performed poorly as a result of the decline.

Among those on the plus side of the ledger we have the Milburn Commodity Program with a gain of 25.3% through mid-December, Taylor Woods Capital is up 20% through mid-December and Andurand Capital is up 8% through December 11. Conversely, funds that have been hurt by the decline in oil include discretionary funds Astenbeck Capital Management and BBL Commodities are down 26% and just over 10% through November, respectively.

According to industry research firm HFR, the average energy focused hedge fund is up 3.6% through the end of November.

Rick Pendergraft
Research Analyst
HedgeCoVest