Hong Kong’s hedge fund assets under management (AUM) reached a record high in 2014, according to the Report of the Survey on Hedge Fund Activities of SFC-licensed Managers/Advisers (Note 1) published today by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC).
The report shows that as of 30 September 2014, hedge fund AUM in Hong Kong reached US$120.9 billion, an increase of 39% from the amount reported in the previous survey in September 2012.
The major findings (Note 2) are summarised below:
- The number of hedge funds managed by SFC-licensed hedge fund managers increased to 778, up more than 15% from 676 two years ago;
- Hong Kong hedge fund assets were allocated mainly to the Asia Pacific region using equity long/short and multi-strategy, and of the total AUM, 63.9% was allocated to the Asia Pacific markets which included 31.7% allocated to Hong Kong and mainland China;
- 92% of hedge fund investors were from outside Hong Kong and most were institutional investors.
The survey was conducted in conjunction with a data collection exercise concerning global hedge fund activities coordinated by the International Organization of Securities Commissions.
Notes:
- For the purpose of the survey, the term "hedge fund managers" includes those fund managers that manage hedge fund assets as well as those that advise hedge funds. The survey was sent to 401 SFC-licensed corporations which were identified as hedge fund managers as of 30 September 2014. They were asked to provide information and data about their hedge fund portfolios managed in Hong Kong as of that date. All licensed hedge fund managers participated in the survey.
- All data are as of 30 September 2014.