Early View: Credit Suisse/Tremont Hedge Fund Index Posts Estimated Positive Performance of 0.87% in February

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Mar 08, 2010, 10:37 ET

NEW YORK, March 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Early estimates indicate the Credit Suisse/Tremont Hedge Fund Index ("Broad Index") will finish up +0.87% in February (based on 76% of assets reporting).

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Key highlights for the month;

Managed Futures posted the best performance among the sectors this month as managers were able to gain from long exposures to short term interest rates and short exposure to declining currencies such as the Sterling. In response to an increase in market reversal situations and weaker overall signals, many trend followers also reduced risk allocation to equities and commodities.

Long/Short Equity funds performed in line with global equity markets in February, finishing up an estimated 1.58% as managers benefited from a favorable fundamental stock picking environment. Profits were driven largely by long exposures to cyclical sectors such as industrials, technology, and consumer discretionary, which outperformed during the month. Despite overall positive returns, many European-focused managers finished the month in negative territory due to increased market turbulence in the EU region.

Global Macro managers produced positive performance finishing up 1.25% in February. The largest sources of profit came from fixed income and foreign exchange positions. Funds capitalized on European sovereign credit stresses by taking short positions on the Euro. Moreover, managers with long front-end and short back-end positions on the yield curve benefited from an overall steepening in the curve which was largely driven by the Greek debt situation and the US Federal Reserve's decision to maintain low rates.

Event Driven funds finished up an estimated 0.48% though returns were mixed across managers. Multi-strategy managers finished up slightly as losses from market hedges and shorts sometimes outpaced gains from long event equity and credit positions. Long-biased distressed managers experienced small gains on specific situations and credit improvements.

Strategy Estimates

    
    
    
                  Index                  Feb-10       Jan-10       2010
    CS/Tremont Hedge Fund Index            0.87%        0.17%      1.04%
    Convertible Arbitrage                  0.63%        0.97%      1.61%
    Dedicated Short Bias                  -4.18%        0.27%     -3.92%
    Emerging Markets                      -0.54%       -0.76%     -1.30%
    Equity Market Neutral                 -1.00%        0.10%     -0.90%
    Event Driven                           0.48%        1.42%      1.91%
         Distressed                        0.39%        2.02%      2.42%
         Event Driven Multi-Strategy       0.56%        0.90%      1.47%
         Risk Arbitrage                   -0.03%        0.40%      0.37%
    Fixed Income Arbitrage                -0.07%        2.02%      1.95%
    Global Macro                           1.25%        1.07%      2.33%
    Long/Short Equity                      1.58%       -1.50%      0.06%
    Managed Futures                        2.01%       -3.81%     -1.88%
    Multi-Strategy                         0.60%        0.56%      1.16%
    MSCI World                             1.23%       -4.19%     -3.01%
    Barclays Capital Aggregate
     Bond Index                            0.07%        0.41%      0.49%
    DJ-UBS Total Return
     Commodities Index                     3.71%       -7.28%     -3.84%
    -------------------                    -----       ------     ------

Estimates are based on 76% of assets reporting; final February performance will be published March 15th on Bloomberg and online at www.hedgeindex.com. For a complete description of the Credit Suisse/Tremont Hedge Fund Index, please see the index rules available at www.hedgeindex.com.

Credit Suisse Tremont Index LLC is the joint venture company of Credit Suisse Index Co., Inc., a subsidiary of Credit Suisse Co., Inc., and Tremont Group Holdings, Inc. Credit Suisse Tremont Index LLC is headquartered at 11 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010-3629.

Credit Suisse AG

As one of the world's leading banks, Credit Suisse provides its clients with private banking, investment banking and asset management services worldwide. Credit Suisse offers advisory services, comprehensive solutions and innovative products to companies, institutional clients and high-net-worth private clients globally, as well as retail clients in Switzerland. Credit Suisse is active in over 50 countries and employs approximately 47,400 people. Credit Suisse is comprised of a number of legal entities around the world and is headquartered in Zurich. The registered shares (CSGN) of Credit Suisse's parent company, Credit Suisse Group AG, are listed in Switzerland and, in the form of American Depositary Shares (CS), in New York. Further information about Credit Suisse can be found at www.credit-suisse.com.

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In its Asset Management business, Credit Suisse offers products across a broad spectrum of investment classes, including alternative investments such as private equity, hedge funds, real estate and credit, as well as multi asset class solutions, which include equities and fixed income products. Credit Suisse's Asset Management business manages portfolios, mutual funds, and other investment vehicles for a broad spectrum of clients ranging from governments, institutions and corporations to private individuals. With offices focused on asset management in 21 countries, Credit Suisse's Asset Management business is operated as a globally integrated network to deliver the bank's best investment ideas and capabilities to clients around the world.

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Disclosure

This document was produced by and the opinions expressed are those of Credit Suisse as of the date of writing and are subject to change without obligation to update. It has been prepared solely for information purposes and for the use of the recipient. It is not a research report. It does not constitute an offer to buy or sell securities or an invitation by or on behalf of Credit Suisse to any person to buy or sell any security. Any reference to past performance is not a guide, guarantee or indicator of future results. The information and analysis contained in this publication have been compiled or arrived at from third party sources believed to be reliable by Credit Suisse but Credit Suisse does not make any representation as to their accuracy or completeness and does not accept liability for any loss arising from the use hereof.

SOURCE Credit Suisse AG