Asian Hedge Funds' 2024 Performance: Best in 15 Years

Asian hedge funds delivered a strong performance in 2024, with the average return for the region reaching 10.5%. This marks the best performance for Asian hedge funds in the past 15 years, according to data compiled from FE fundinfo. The strong performance was driven by several market trends and specific strategies that contributed to the success of Asian hedge funds.

One of the key factors behind the strong performance of Asian hedge funds was the surge in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency-related investments. The Samsung Bitcoin Futures Active ETF, which provides investors exposure to the price of Bitcoin through derivatives, delivered a 100.04% gain for investors in 2024. This was roughly in line with the price appreciation of Bitcoin over the year, which briefly surpassed the $100,000 mark. The VanEck Crypto and Blockchain Innovators UCITS ETF, which invests in Bitcoin and crypto-related listed equities, also featured in the top performing funds, gaining 43.45% over the year.

Another significant contributor to the strong performance of Asian hedge funds was the exposure to high-flying tech stocks through global growth equity strategies. The Natixis WCM Select Global Growth Equity fund, for example, delivered the best returns in the global equity sector, up 55.03% for the year. One of its best performing stocks was AppLovin, which rallied over 800% during the year. The Alger Focus Equity fund, which also had exposure to AppLovin, performed well, gaining 53.39% in 2024.

The strong performance of Asian hedge funds was also driven by regional trends. The best performing regions in 2024 were Malaysia, the US, and Taiwan. This aligns with the success of growth strategies, as these regions are home to many tech companies that have been driving growth in the global equity market.

In conclusion, the strong performance of Asian hedge funds in 2024 was driven by several market trends and specific strategies, including the surge in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency-related investments, exposure to high-flying tech stocks through global growth equity strategies, and regional trends. The average return for Asian hedge funds in 2024 was 10.5%, marking the best performance for the region in the past 15 years. As the global economy continues to recover and grow, Asian hedge funds are well-positioned to capitalize on new opportunities and continue their strong performance in the coming years.