The size of the hedge fund industry globally grew by $125.9 billion in 2014 but this was almost half the growth seen in the sector in 2013 when assets under management grew by $240.4 billion.
This is according to data provider Eurekahedge, which explained that the average performance of funds also fell compared with 2013 levels. On average, funds returned 4.46 percent in the first 11 months of 2014 compared with the 8.76 percent return of the Eurekahedge index in 2013.
Regionally, Asian funds, excluding Japan, delivered the highest returns globally and were up 9.36 percent for the year. Most of the growth of Asia-focused funds came from exposure to Indian equities, which rose nearly 30 percent in the first 11 months of 2014.
Funds with a Japanese and North American mandate came in second and third place, delivering returns of 6.22 percent and 6.08 percent, respectively.
Eurekahedge, Asia-Pacific, North America, Cayman
