NEWS
15 Jan 2014 - Morphic Global Opportunities Fund
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| Manager Comments | The biggest out-performers in the portfolio were all US listed stocks, led by Chinese online gaming and media company Netease; chip design software maker Mentor Graphics; oil refiner Valero Energy and computer hard drive maker Western Digital. The Fund closed the year fully invested, but with a significant overweight to developed markets, led by Japan, and a large underweight in emerging markets. |
| More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
14 Jan 2014 - Monash Absolute Investment Fund
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| Fund Overview | The fund seeks to identify opportunities in the share market to make positive returns (long and short) irrespective of market conditions. It is style agnostic, as compelling investment opportunities exist across all investment styles from time to time. The Fund places a high priority on capital preservation, and has an absolute return focus in accepting market risk. |
| Manager Comments | The Manager discusses a number of portfolio holdings including Royal Mail, Greencross and Silver Chef. |
| More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
13 Jan 2014 - Performance Report: Bennelong Kardinia Absolute Return Fund
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| Fund Overview | The Fund consists of a concentrated long/short portfolio typically comprising 30 to 40 ASX300 listed stocks, generally with a long bias aligned to the overall market direction. There is a slight bias to large cap stocks in the long side of the portfolio, although in a rising market the portfolio will tend to hold smaller caps, including resource stocks, more frequently. On the short side, the portfolio is particularly concentrated, with stock selection limited by both liquidity and the difficulty of borrowing stock in smaller cap companies. Short positions are only taken when there is a high conviction view on the specific stock. The Fund uses derivatives in a limited way, mainly selling short dated covered call options to generate additional income. These typically have less than 30 days to expiry, and are usually 5% to 10% out of the money. ASX SPI futures and index put options can be used to hedge the portfolio's overall net position. |
| Manager Comments | The Fund's December performance was achieved in a market which although positive lagged most of its global developed market peers, and which at one stage was down over 4% on concerns over the US tapering of asset purchases. Local headwinds included a flood of IPO's draining liquidity, a falling A$, and a deterioration in the fiscal outlook facing the new coalition government. By month end the Manager had increased the Fund's net exposure to 74.8%, based on 82.5% long, and 7.7% short. |
| More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
6 Jan 2014 - AFM closed for Christmas/New Year break
AFM will be closed for the Christmas break from Monday 23 December 2013 and will re-open on Monday 13 January 2014. Our website and database will continue to be updated during this time.
If you have any urgent requirements, please call 02 8007 6611 and leave a message, or send us an email.
We hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and if you are going away, a safe and happy holiday. Here are the AFM Christmas elves with a little bit of song and dance.
Best wishes,
Chris
CEO, AUSTRALIAN FUND MONITORS
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| Registration to AFM is free and provides information and performance data on Absolute Return, Hedge Funds and Alternative Investments, plus detailed infomation on Featured Funds. | Fund Managers and paid Subscribers also have access to details on Individual Managers and Funds, with historical results, key performance indicators, latest news and performance reports. | Tune into Sky Business on Foxtel every week on Monday at 2:20pm for AFM's weekly comment on Hedge Funds. |
27 Dec 2013 - Pengana Asia Special Events (Onshore) Fund
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| Fund Overview | The Fund seeks to profit from trading securities which are primarily subject to corporate events or from trading-related securities which the Investment Manager believes are mispriced by the market. The Fund invests in securities that are listed on Asian stock markets and other markets where related securities may be listed and in securities which are listed on markets outside of Asia where more than 70% (by assets or earnings) of the underlying business originates from an Asian country. The Fund aims to generate consistently positive returns which have a low correlation to the Asian stock markets. The objective is to generate 10-20% pa with a standard deviation of 6-10% |
| Manager Comments | The performance of the underlying strategies was mixed during the month: M&A and Earnings Surprise contributed positively while Capital Management and Stubs trades detracted value. Positions in Japan and Thailand generated healthy profits for the Fund. During the month the Fund maintained an average net and gross exposure of 14% and 190% respectively. November's focus remained on China as details emerged of the reform package, while risk appetite in Japan remained healthy due to continued weakness in the Yen. Within the Capital Management strategy, spin offs is a key theme that we observe emerging in the Asian event landscape and it presents unique trading opportunities. |
| More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
24 Dec 2013 - Allard Investment Fund
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| Manager Comments | The Fund's low volatility is evidenced by its maximum draw-down of 18.29% and downside deviation of 5.45% with the comparative S&P/ASX 200 Accum Index data of 47.19% and 9.90% respectively. Data is since inception in July 2003. Geographic exposure was China/HK 33.6%, Singapore 13.0% and Korea 9.9%. The industry break-down was dominated by Financial Services at 15.5%, Conglomerates at 12.0% and Telco's at 8.8%. |
| More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
23 Dec 2013 - Auscap Long Short Australian Equities Fund
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| Fund Overview | The Fund focuses on fundamental long and short investments. The Fund may utilise a multi-strategy approach if short term opportunities to increase returns, hedge the portfolio, protect capital or minimise volatility are found. The Fund is a high conviction fund and the combined portfolio will typically have 25-45 positions, investing primarily in stocks in the ASX200. The Fund may be net long, short or neutral depending on the strategies employed at the time. The Fund may hold cash so that it is in a position to take advantage of market volatility and compelling investment opportunities as and when they arise. The Fund may be geared up to 200% gross long or short and up to 150% net long or short. |
| Manager Comments | The Fund had an average gross capital employed of 131.5% long and 13.8% short for a gross total of 145.3%. The Manager comments 'While we do not make forecasts, we do try to draw sensible conclusions about the economy and the stock-market in which we are a participant. It seems highly unlikely that the market will repeat or better last year's performance next year. The market has been assisted by a number of things during 2013, including the re-rating of equities as sentiment turned more positive and the rates of return offered by alternative assets declined.' |
| More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
20 Dec 2013 - Hedge Clippings
Buy the rumour, Sell the fact - or in the case of the reaction to the FED's announcement of the start of the tapering process, Sell the rumour, Buy the fact has never seemed more accurate, even if it does turn out to be a one day rally. The taper news probably overshadowed the decision, or indication, that interest rates would stay close to zero for longer, but in any event US investors and the market should break for Christmas with a reasonably positive outlook heading into 2014.
Having enjoyed a solid 2013 I would expect they'll be reasonably pleased about the year just past, unless they were long resources, and gold in particular. Looking at the average returns of funds in AFM's database as an example, although only to the end of November, equity based funds are up 19.19% year to date, neck and neck with the ASX200 accumulation index which gained 19.18% over the same period. Non-equity funds have struggled meanwhile, rising only 4.06% YTD to the end of November.
Meanwhile on the regulatory front, Australia's new government probably hasn't had the best press since its election in September. Today's announcement by the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Sinodinis of significant amendments (aka watering down) of the Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) legislation is likely to receive mixed reactions. The proposed changes will undoubtedly reduce the cost and inconvenience to the industry created by the original FOFA, but various measures designed to protect, or inform investors and consumers would seem to have been significantly reduced in the process.
As a result the reaction will no doubt depend on which side of the desk you happen to be sitting. Or as former PM Paul Keating once famously quoted: "In the race of life, always back self-interest, at least you know it's trying."
This will be the last edition of "Hedge Clippings" for 2013 as we head to the sand and the surf to work off the excess intake that is likely to take place next week, past performance in this case being a very reliable guide to future consumption. We'll be back bigger (as usual) and hopefully better than ever, with some exciting developments in store for investors and fund managers alike.
In the meantime thank you for your readership and interest over the past year, and wishing you a wonderful Christmas, and a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year.
Specific results received this week include the following PERFORMANCE and NEWS UPDATES:
Optimal Australia Absolute Trust returned -0.52% during November bringing the twelve month performance to 1.61% and annualised returns since inception (Sept 2008) to 10.45% p.a. with a volatility of 3.62% p.a. The Fund's net risk exposure was 4.0% while gross exposure was 67.2%. Long investments returned -0.58% while short investments returned 0.04%.
The Aurora Fortitude Absolute Return Fund continues to deliver low risk returns recording 0.52% during November and 6.80% for the last 12 months with a volatility of 1.67%. The Fund has a Sharpe ratio of 2.33 and a maximum draw-down of 0.19% over the last twelve months as compared to the S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index draw-down of 6.72%.
Bennelong's Long Short Equity Fund returned -1.80% during November and 20.32% for the previous twelve months with a below market volatility of 9.36% p.a. (S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index 11.51%). The Fund's long-term performance remains strong with a since inception (Jan 2003) annual return of 20.82% as compared to the Index of 10.08% p.a. with a slightly below Index volatility. The Fund's maximum draw-down is notable at -12.22% as compared to the Index value of -47.19% as is the Fund's Sharpe ratio at 1.25 as compared to 0.43 (Index).
The Cor Capital Fund returned -0.90% during November, a weak month for equity markets which returned -1.31% (S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index). The Manager comments 'During November the Fund's cash holdings made the largest positive contribution to performance (+0.08%) with equities (-0.26%) and precious metals (-0.64%) making negative contributions to the overall return.'
FUND REVIEWS updated this week include:
Morphic's Global Opportunities Fund is a global equity long/short manager with a long bias and a macro-economic overlay. The mandate allows the Fund to short sell, use derivatives and invest in assets such as commodities & currencies as Fund's philosophy is that only Managers with flexible investment and hedging strategies will be able to deliver acceptable, steady, real, absolute returns over the investment cycle.
12 February 2014: Investment Administration Conference - Efficiency in a Regulated World.
If you know of any upcoming hedge fund industry Events, or would like your Event listed in our calendar, please contact us.
We hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and if you are going away, a safe and happy holiday. Here are the AFM Christmas elves with a little bit of song and dance:
On that note, Merry Christmas and we will see you again in the new year!
Best wishes,
Chris
CEO, AUSTRALIAN FUND MONITORS
Connect with me on LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
| Registration to AFM is free and provides information and performance data on Absolute Return, Hedge Funds and Alternative Investments, plus detailed infomation on Featured Funds. | Fund Managers and paid Subscribers also have access to details on Individual Managers and Funds, with historical results, key performance indicators, latest news and performance reports. | Tune into Sky Business on Foxtel every week on Monday at 2:20pm for AFM's weekly comment on Hedge Funds. |
Australian Fund Monitors are helping to raise awareness to support research into prevention and cure for cerebral palsy. For more information visit www.cpresearch.org.au or contact me by email.
19 Dec 2013 - Fund Review: Morphic Global Opportunities Fund
MORPHIC GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
AFM has updated the Fund Review on the Morphic Global Opportunities Fund.
Key points include:
- The Fund is a global equity long/short manager with a long bias and a macro-economic overlay. The mandate allows the Fund to short sell, use derivatives and invest in assets such as commodities & currencies.
- Portfolio construction is stock selection agnostic with a bias to value based and momentum strategies. Risk management is a primary consideration in portfolio construction and the strong emphasis on risk is evidenced by the Fund's annualised standard deviation of 8.80% (10.10% ASX 200 Accum Index), maximum drawdown of 1.57% (6.72% Index) and downside deviation of 1.68 (5.30 Index).
- Morphic's philosophy is that only funds with flexible investment and hedging strategies will be able to deliver acceptable, steady, real, absolute returns over the investment cycle.
- The Fund is an early stage, boutique, Sydney-based fund established in 2012 with experienced CIO's, and an investment team of 6 including a risk manager.
- The Board has a majority of independent members with significant risk and investment experience.
For further details on the Fund, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Morphic Global Opportunities Fund AFM Review - November 201318 Dec 2013 - Cor Capital Fund
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| Fund Overview | The Cor Capital Fund is a Multi- Asset Fund which combines a pre-determined strategic asset allocation with active but systemised rebalancing to generate returns and manage volatility whilst maintaining transparency and liquidity. The Fund strategy is not reliant on accurate market predictions, forecasts or timing for success. Returns are generated in a number of ways; 1) by maintaining sufficiently large positions in a diverse group of asset classes, 2) via the 'volatility harvesting' consequences of active rebalancing, and 3) from the offsetting behaviour of certain asset classes under specific conditions. The combined portfolio is expected to exhibit relatively low volatility and low turnover. In the interests of avoiding complexity, maintaining liquidity, and minimising reliance on third parties, the Fund strategy does not employ gearing, derivatives or short-selling. |
| Manager Comments | The Manager comments 'During November the Fund's cash holdings made the largest positive contribution to performance (+0.08%) with equities (-0.26%) and precious metals (-0.64%) making negative contributions to the overall return.' The Manager also notes that market volatility appears to be increasing again and the Fund's active re-balancing and broad asset allocation should allow it to capitalise while maintaining downside protection. Downside protection without the use of derivatives, gearing or short-selling necessitates an acceptance of some month-to-month volatility. The Manager expects the investment strategy to deliver medium-term stability regardless of financial market conditions given the Fund's asset allocation. |
| More Information | » View detailed profile of this fund |
