The financial landscape in September was marked by significant volatility and shifts in investor sentiment, sector performance, and market dynamics.
Gold prices surged by 5.2%, reflecting a flight to safety among investors, while crude oil prices experienced a notable decline of 6.2%.
The Euro appreciated by 0.74% against the US dollar, while the US dollar weakened by 1.62% against the Japanese Yen.
US equity hedged strategies generally yielded positive returns, with individual stock selection driving performance. The consumer discretionary sector emerged as the top performer, followed by utilities.
European equity hedged strategies displayed mixed results, with utilities, momentum, and exposure to Germany driving performance.
Asian equity hedged strategies reported positive returns, primarily driven by a substantial rally in China.
Relative value strategies in fixed income performed well, particularly in US bond markets. Corporate credit strategies and asset-backed strategies produced positive returns, while discretionary trading strategies had mixed results.
Quantitative equity strategies struggled, with negative returns observed across various sub-strategies.
Overall, market participants remain vigilant and adapt their strategies to navigate the complexities of the current environment.