"Alternative Alternatives" investment funds start 2011 slightly negative, returning -0.55% in January after double digit returns in 2010

Opalesque Ltd., a leading provider of online information services to the alternative investment industry, today announced the preliminary results of the Opalesque A SQUARE ('alternative-alternatives') indices covering the performance of niche alternative investment funds. The indices are calculated based on the net performance of 591 single- and multi-manager funds currently listed in 22 categories in the Opalesque Solutions A SQUARE Fund Database.

The Opalesque A SQUARE Index declined an estimated 0.55% in January, bringing the 12-month performance to +10.39%. The A SQUARE Funds of Funds Index posted an estimated loss of 0.37% in January, leading to a 12-month performance of 4.43%.

Over the last 12 months, performance of the A SQUARE Index ranged between a gain of 3.12% in September 2010 and a loss of 1.97% in May 2010, with 9 positive and 3 negative months. "Alternative Alternatives" funds underperformed their two benchmarks: Hedge funds tracked by the HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index returned 0.48% in January (+11.8% over the last 12 months), while global equity markets, represented by the MSCI World Index, posted another strong month with a gain of 2.19% in January (+17.4% over the last 12 months).

Regarding absolute and relative risk, both the A SQUARE Index and the A SQUARE Funds of Funds Index did better than their benchmarks over the analyzed 12-month period: Volatility (defined as annualized standard deviation) was 4.99% for the A SQUARE Index and 4.72% for the FoF Index, compared to 6.32% for the HFRI and over 19.82% for the MSCI World.

Market risk, measured by the corresponding beta values, was low for both A SQUARE indices, a result of the small volatility and low correlation of the funds listed in the A SQUARE database with both equity markets and hedge fund strategies (0.21 and 0.74 respectively for the A SQUARE Index).

The funds listed in the A SQUARE database thus managed to meet their target of delivering steady returns with low correlation to 'classic' investment strategies.

Historically, the A SQUARE single manager funds delivered steady, double-digit returns from 2004 to 2010 (with the exception of the financial crisis year 2008), ranging between 11.18% in 2010 and 17.16% in 2007, and outperforming the HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index four times. During the crisis year of 2008, the A SQUARE Index provided significant downside protection, ending the year 2008 down 8.28%, compared to a HFRI decline of around 20%.

About the Opalesque A2 Indices and database:
Opalesque A SQUARE = Alternative Alternatives is the first web publication, globally, that is dedicated exclusively to “alternative” investments. A SQUARE's weekly selection feature unique investment opportunities that bear virtually no correlation to the main stream hedge fund strategies and/or distinguish themselves by virtue of their “alternative” motive - social, behavioural, natural resources, sustainable / environment related investing. The archive containing all issues of A SQUARE published to date can be found here:

With currently 583 Alternative Funds in 22 categories, the new A SQUARE database is the only database dedicated exclusively to "alternative alternatives" investments with fast facts and investment oriented analysis. Investors interested in alternative funds would find the database very useful because of:

• Detailed information provided for each of the funds
• Categorization of funds, helping users to navigate through information of interest
• Information is updated/sent by the fund managers themselves, reducing margin of error in the facts and figures
• Mark funds as Favorites
• Mark funds for Comparison
• Extensive search option available

The A SQUARE database is located here:
www.opalesquesolutions.com/asquare/

The A SQUARE Index and the A SQUARE FoF Index are the first indices tracking the performance of niche investment strategies only. Both indices are equally weighting the performance of all funds and FoFs listed in our database. More information on the performance and methodology of the indices can be found here:
www.opalesquesolutions.com/asquare/a2index.html

Opalesque was formed in 2001 to provide professional news services to participants in the alternative investment sector. Since inception, Opalesque has been providing premium online information services related to the hedge fund and investment industries. The Opalesque publication Alternative Market Briefing is the only daily hedge fund news service read by the elite hedge fund managers themselves (see our Testimonial page for more). Opalesque is led by Matthias Knab, an internationally recognized expert on hedge funds and alternatives.

Opalesque Ltd.
PO Box 649
New York, NY 10028
U.S.A.

This release was published on openPR.