Hedge fund assets to hit new high: survey

TOTAL assets managed in hedge funds are expected to hit an all-time high this year, a recent survey from Credit Suisse has found.

It also revealed that the polled investors - nearly nine in 10 of whom were based in the West - are less keen on emerging market strategies as indicated in demand for equities and credit. Much stronger interest lay instead in funds that take on event-driven or pure-equity strategies.

On the back of more positive sentiment reflected last year, investors expect assets under management of hedge funds to grow at least 12 per cent this year, to hit an all-time high of US$2.8 trillion. This means an additional US$300 billion for the industry, a result of both better performance and new capital inflows.