HFRU Indices Mid-February 2014 performance notes

Global financial markets posted gains through mid-February, as corporate earnings results continued to be favorable and the transition in US Federal Reserve leadership proceeded without significant modifications to existing policies. Global equity markets posted gains through mid-February, recovering early month losses and paring gains for FY 2014, with US leadership from Technology, Commodity-sensitive, Cyclicals and Healthcare sectors. European and Asian equities also posted gains through mid-month, with leadership from France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, while Asian equities were led by China, Australia and Thailand. US yields rose as the curve steepened, with increases concentrated in longer dated maturities; European yields were little changed through mid-month as high yield credit tightened and overall asset volatility fell, despite an early month increase. The US dollar fell against the British Pound Sterling, Swiss Franc and Euro, while also declining against Emerging and Commodity currencies including Canadian Dollar, Australian Dollar, South African Rand and New Zealand Dollar. Commodities posted gains across Metals, Energy and Agriculturals, led by Oil, Natural Gas, Gold, Silver, Coffee and Soybeans. UCITS compliant Hedge funds posted gains, with the HFRU Hedge Fund Composite Index gaining +0.82% through mid-February, the strongest gain since October 2013.

HFRU Equity Hedge Index posted a gain of +1.30% through mid-February, the strongest gain since October 2013, with positive contributions from regional exposures to European equity with concentration in Eastern Europe and Turkey, as these partially recovered prior month losses.

HFRU Event Driven Index posted a gain of +0.60% through mid-February, with contributions from European Equity Special Situations and Emerging Markets Fixed Income strategies, while Global Merger Arbitrage exposure posted mixed performance.

HFRU Macro Index posted a gain of +0.66% through mid-February, with positive contributions from Commodity: Metals and Agriculturals exposure, which were partially offset by declines in Discretionary Macro & CTA managers.

HFRU Relative Value Arbitrage Index posted a gain of +0.33% through mid-February, with gains in Real Estate and Emerging Markets Credit strategies, which were partially offset by declines in Volatility exposure.

Comments reflect performance figures as of February 17, 2014.

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