CTAs Reinforce Strong Start to 2024 in March
Posted by Colin Lambert. Last updated: April 27, 2024
It was two solid months in a row for CTAs, with the Barclay CTA Index from Barclayhedge reinforcing February’s almost 2% return, with a +2.05% performance in March from the 93% of funds to report data.
This brings the year-to-date return to +4.39%, during March, only one sub-index, Agri traders, was down. The Cryptocurrency Traders Index was +11.83%, with 88% of firms reporting (a much higher average than when performance is poor!), followed by Diversified Traders at +2.74%. Year-to-date, the crypto traders’ index is up 39.47%.
The Currency Traders Index was +0.47%, bringing the 2024 return to +2.4% through the first quarter, while systematic traders continue to outperform their discretionary brethren. The Systematic Traders Index was +2.47%, for +5.6% year-to-date, while the Discretionary Traders Index was +1.11%, for +1.67% through the first quarter.
The MPI Barclay Elite Systematic Traders Index is living up to its name, rising 2.91% in March, for a TradFi-leading +8.07% on the year.
It was another month also for the BTOP50 Index, which seeks to replicate the overall composition of the managed futures industry with regard to trading style and overall market exposure, the Index was an estimated +3.27% in March. This brings estimated year-to-date performance of the Index to +9.09%.