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Printed: 21 September 2026 11:06 AM

10 Apr 2017 - Bennelong Long Short Equity Fund

By: Australian Fund Monitors
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Report Date08 April 2017
ManagerBennelong Long Short Equity Management, a Bennelong boutique
Fund NameBennelong Long Short Equity Fund
StrategyEquity Market Neutral
Latest Return DateMarch 2017
Latest Return0.29%
Latest 6 Months-0.15%
Latest 12 Months-1.90%
Latest 24 Months20.38%
Annualised Since Inception16.40%
Inception Date01 January 2003
FUM (millions)AU$404.1
Fund OverviewBennelong Long Short Equity Management applies a qualitative stock selection process to construct a diversified portfolio of paired securities based on relative value. The Bennelong Long Short Equity Management strategy invests primarily in the S&P/ASX 100 and is dollar neutral at cost.

In a typical environment the Fund will hold around 70 stocks comprising 35 pairs. Each pair contains one long and one short position each of which will have been thoroughly researched and are selected from the same market sector. Whilst in an ideal environment each stock's position will make a positive return, it is the relative performance of the pair that is important.

As a result the Fund can make positive returns when each stock moves in the same direction provided the long position outperforms the short one in relative terms. However, if neither side of the trade is profitable, strict controls are required to ensure losses are limited.

The Fund uses no derivatives and has no currency exposure. The Fund has no hard stop loss limits, instead relying on the small average position size per stock (1.5%) and per pair (3%) to limit exposure. Where practical pairs are always held within the same sector to limit cross sector risk, and positions can be held for months or years.

The Bennelong Market Neutral Fund, with same strategy and liquidity is available for retail investors.
Manager CommentsBennelong Long Short Equity Fund was up slightly for March, returning +0.29%. The Australian market's gain of +2.7%% (S&P/ASX 200) was broad-based with all sectors up except for materials (bulk and industrial commodity prices fell) and telecommunications. The Fund's long term performance since inception remains strong with annual returns of 16.4% p.a. (ASX 200 Accumulation Index 8.17% p.a.) with a volatility of 12.08% (Index 12.85%).

The standout pair for the month was ILuka / Downer with both positions contributing positively. The TPG Telecom / Telstra and Challenger / AMP pairs also contributed positively for the month. Elsewhere pair performance was balanced with little change. The Fund's performance for the most recent quarter was up +7.43%, dominated by company fundamental performance in 2017. The portfolio benefited from both numerous upgrades to the long portfolio and downgrades to the short portfolio, and had few losers.
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