Over the past couple of weeks Hedge Clippings has looked at the returns of Australian hedge funds over 2017 - particularly equity based funds which on average outperformed the market - returning +13.02% against the ASX 200 Accumulation Index 11.8%. However we also noted that averages were sometimes misleading, with many funds significantly outperforming the average.
Looking at similar figures from Eureka Hedge (based in Singapore and whose focus is global funds rather than Australian), the average global fund was only up 8.25% for the year, with 79% of fund managers in positive territory, compared with Australian funds with almost 93% in positive territory. Comparing apples with apples on a strategy basis, Australian equity long/short funds returned 14.23% vs their global peers performance of +12.39%, while in the long only strategy the locals again outperformed returning 17.05% vs. 16.85%.
These results are even more impressive considering the local market's underperformance compared to the return of 21.83% by the S&P500 where the bulk of global equity managers invest. So not only did the locals outperform their overseas peers and the local market, but the global industry underperformed the global market.
There could be reasons for this of course, one being that the majority of funds in the www.fundmonitors.com database investing in Australia have limited FUM, and rarely above $1 billion, compared to the many larger $5bn+ US funds, with high FUM historically leading to lower returns. However to a great degree it is down to the depth of quality managers in Australia, and a market which is under researched - particularly outside the top 100 or 200 stocks, providing significant opportunities for managers investing in companies that are travelling under the brokers' research radar.
However the bottom line reality is that there are some outstanding local fund managers, large and small, who consistently perform on a global scale.
Moving away from the subject of hedge funds for a moment, and given that it is the day before Australia Day, Hedge Clippings has been pondering whether as a nation we are making the most of our opportunities. Australia is often considered to be the "lucky country" with its abundance of resources, a great climate, and a multicultural and generally tolerant society which most countries would be proud of.
For instance, take the ridiculous and distracting argument about the date upon which we celebrate Australia Day, and even what it should be called. All Nations and civilisations have aspects of their past they might prefer had not occurred. However, instead of arguing about the date or trying to airbrush history, surely we should be using the day to not only celebrate our successes, but also redoubling our efforts to ensure that we have a fairer and more inclusive society for all - irrespective of past wrongs.
And at the end of the day what event has shaped this nation, warts and all, more than the arrival of the First Fleet, on January 26, 1788?
Australia may well be the lucky country, but I'm not sure we are very smart. When in the UK recently (hardly renowned as one of the sunniest places in the world) I was struck by the number of fields alongside motorways in which there were rows and rows of solar panels. At the same time the UK, along with many other nations, are looking forward by planning for the end of the internal combustion engine.
Solar and alternative power and electric vehicles on just two examples of where the average Australian seems keen to move, but is being restricted by political dogma and vested interests, not only of certain industries, but also of an unsafe seat in Canberra.
There's an old saying: "Unless you embrace change before it occurs, you will be decimated by it when it does!"
And on that note, we wish all readers a Happy Australia Day, however you wish to spend it.
