Hedge Funds Rise as Cohen Posts Gains; Paulson Declines

Hedge funds climbed 0.2 percent in November after posting declines during the two previous months, as markets reversed losses following the U.S. elections.

The gain lifted this year’s return for the $2.19 trillion industry to 1.4 percent, trailing global stocks. Long-short and event-driven funds rallied, while macro (BBHFMCRO) and multistrategy managers slumped. Fund runs by Steven A. Cohen’s SAC Capital Advisors LP and Ken Griffin’s Citadel LLC rose, while John Paulson posted losses in most of his funds.

Stock markets fell following the re-election of U.S. President Barack Obama and the prospect of automatic spending cuts and tax increases set to be triggered in January. They reversed losses amid reports showing the housing market is improving. The MSCI All-Country World Index (MXWD) rose 1.3 percent last month and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (BBHFUNDS) of big U.S. stocks advanced 0.6 percent, besting hedge funds.

“As a result of the fiscal cliff situation, people got short,” said Peter Rup, chief investment officer at New York- based Artemis Wealth Advisors LLC, which oversees $570 million for high-net-worth families. “They got hurt when the market reversed itself.”

The Bloomberg Hedge Funds Aggregate Index is down 11 percent from its July 2007 peak. The main Bloomberg hedge fund index is weighted by market capitalization and tracks 2,768 funds, 1,257 of which have reported returns for November.

Paulson Declines

Event-driven (BBHFMERG) merger arbitrage funds, or those that try to predict triggers for stocks and bonds such as corporate restructurings, acquisitions, management changes and share sales, climbed 0.4 percent last month and 2 percent this year.

Macro funds, which make investment decisions based on their reading of economic and political events, fell 0.5 percent last month and 1.4 percent in this year’s first 11 months.

Paulson’s $19 billion Paulson & Co. posted losses in the Advantage, Recovery and Gold funds, while credit and merger- arbitrage strategies gained. Advantage Plus declined 6.5 percent in November, bringing losses this year to 22 percent, and the Gold fund fell 12 percent to bring declines for the year to 21 percent, according to a person briefed on the return who asked not to be named.

Armel Leslie, a spokesman for Paulson & Co., declined to comment on the returns.

Cohen Gains

Moore Capital Management LLC, the $13.5 billion fund in New York run by Louis Moore Bacon, fell 0.1 percent in November in its Moore Global Investments fund, paring gains this year to 4.1 percent, according to a person briefed on the returns. The firm’s Moore Macro Managers fund rose 1.3 percent last month and 5.2 percent this year, the person said. Patrick Clifford, a spokesman for Moore, declined to comment on the returns.

Long-short equity funds, whose managers can bet on and against stocks, advanced 0.2 percent for the month and 2.9 percent in 2012. Multistrategy funds fell 1 percent in November and 5.7 percent in 2012.

Cohen’s SAC Capital International rose 1.1 percent in November and 9.6 percent this year, according to a person familiar with the matter. The fund is run by SAC Capital Advisors, the $14 billion Stamford, Connecticut-based hedge fund that was notified last month by the Securities and Exchange Commission that it may be sued for insider-trading fraud. Jonathan Gasthalter, a spokesman for SAC, declined to comment on the returns.

Kensington Funds

Cohen told investors on a conference call last week that he acted appropriately when trading shares of Elan Corp. and Wyeth LLC, according to a person on the call.

Citadel, the $13 billion Chicago-based firm founded by Ken Griffin, rose 2 percent in November and 21 percent in 2012 in its main Kensington and Wellington funds, according to a person familiar with the matter. Katie Spring, a spokeswoman for Citadel, declined to comment on the returns.

Managed futures funds, which can use derivatives contracts in their trading strategy, lost 0.2 percent last month and 4.6 percent this year.

Winton Capital Management LLC, the $26.2 billion London- based managed futures hedge fund started by David Winton Harding, advanced 0.7 percent last month through Nov. 28 in its $10 billion Winton Futures fund, paring yearly losses to 5.1 percent, according to a person familiar with the matter. The firm’s $100 million Evolution fund fell 2.8 percent last month and 9.8 percent in 2012, the person said. Robin Eggar, a spokesman for Winton, declined to comment on the returns.

Pershing Square Capital Management LP fell 1.2 percent in November in its $6 billion Pershing Square International Ltd. fund, trimming yearly gains to 6.2 percent, according to a person familiar with the matter. Pershing Square is the $10.8 billion New York-based firm run by Bill Ackman, who is known for investing in companies to press for changes and who declined to comment on the returns.

Hedge fund assets grew 3.6 percent to a record $2.19 trillion in the third quarter, according to Chicago-based Hedge Fund Research Inc. Investors deposited $10.6 billion during the period, the firm said in October.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kelly Bit in New York at kbit@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christian Baumgaertel at cbaumgaertel@bloomberg.net

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Hedge Funds Rose in November as Cohen’s SAC, Winton Gained

Scott Eells/Bloomberg

Steven A. Cohen’s SAC Capital International rose 1.1 percent in November and 9.6 percent this year, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Steven A. Cohen’s SAC Capital International rose 1.1 percent in November and 9.6 percent this year, according to a person familiar with the matter. Photographer: Scott Eells/Bloomberg