Van: Hedge Funds Up 1.4% in February

March 5, 2004 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Preliminary returns show the Van Global Hedge Fund Index gained 1.4% net in February.

February’s gain was the 12 th straight month the Index has ended the month in positive territory, according to data released by Van Hedge Fund Advisors International, LLC.   Compared to the broader markets, February’s initial return figure based on over 300 hedge fund returns is identical to the S&P 500’s February return.

Year-to-date the Index has gained 3.4% net of fees, keeping in line with the S&P 500’s 3.3% return.

“Hedge funds continue to post healthy gains this year,” George Van, Chairman of VAN said in a news release. “Over three-quarters of the February returns we’ve received so far are positive and almost every strategy is shaping up to be a winner for the month. Emerging Markets, Value, and Distressed Securities look like the best performers right now.”

Van Global Hedge Fund Index climbed to a preliminary value of 11,004.46 at the end of February.    Since its inception, in 1988, through last month, the Index has produced a compound annualized return of 16% net.

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