Hedge fund investors focused on emerging market this year: Report

New Delhi: Global hedge fund investors remain positive about their growth and return prospects and are focused on emerging market this year with a particular emphasis on Asia Pacific and India, says a report.

"Regionally, investors are focused on emerging market exposure this year, including a particular focus on Asia Pacific and India. The overall Asia-Pacific region drew the greatest interest at 24 percent net demand; down from the last two years, but enough to top the 2017 list," Credit Suisse's ninth annual Hedge Fund Investor Survey said.

The survey entitled 'Shifting Tides' noted that the Asia Pacific region topped the list of geographies that drew the greatest interest from hedge fund investors.

Globally, the assets under management of the hedge fund industry stood at an all-time high of USD 3.018 trillion and investors are forecasting a 3.5 percent increase in new inflows during 2017.

The most preferred strategy for 2017 was the global macro-discretionary, followed by fixed income arbitrage and emerging markets-equity in the second and third place, respectively, Credit Suisse said in the report, which took responses from over 320 institutional investors representing USD 1.3 trillion of hedge fund investments.

"Institutional investors remain strongly committed to hedge funds playing a role in their portfolios," Robert Leonard, MD and Global Head of Capital Services at Credit Suisse, said.

The survey, produced by Credit Suisse's Hedge Fund Capital Services Group, focused on pension funds, endowments, foundations, consultants, private banks, family offices and funds of hedge funds and with respondents diversified across all regions.