What is Hedge Fund? Definition of Hedge Fund, Hedge Fund Meaning - The Economic Times (2024)

Definition: Hedge fund is a private investment partnership and funds pool that uses varied and complex proprietary strategies and invests or trades in complex products, including listed and unlisted derivatives.

Put simply, a hedge fund is a pool of money that takes both short and long positions, buys and sells equities, initiates arbitrage, and trades bonds, currencies, convertible securities, commodities and derivative products to generate returns at reduced risk. As the name suggests, the fund tries to hedge risks to investor’s capital against market volatility by employing alternative investment approaches.

Description: Hedge fund investors typically include high net worth individuals (HNIs) and families, endowments and pension funds, insurance companies, and banks. These funds work either as private investment partnerships or offshore investment corporations. They are not required to be registered with the securities markets regulator and are not subject to the reporting requirements, including periodic disclosure of NAVs.

There are many strategies a hedge fund may use to generate returns. One such strategy is global macros, where the fund takes long and short positions in large financial markets based on the views influenced by economic trends. Then there are funds that work on market-neutral strategies. Here, the goal of the fund manager is to minimise market risks by investing in long/short equity funds, convertible bonds, arbitrage funds, and fixed income products.

Another type includes event-driven funds that invest in stocks to take advantage of price movements generated by corporate events. Merger arbitrage funds and distressed asset funds fall into this category.

As of June 30, 2014, there were 158 alternative investment funds (pooled-in investment vehicles for private equity, real estate, and hedge funds). Some examples of hedge funds include names like Munoth Hedge Fund, Forefront Alternative Investment Trust, Quant First Alternative Investment Trust and IIFL Opportunities Fund. There are others such as Singlar India Opportunities Trust, Motilal Oswal’s offshore hedge fund and India Zen Fund.

The minimum ticket size for investors putting money in these hedge funds is Rs 1 crore. According to Eurekahedge India Hedge Fund Index, which tracks hedge funds in India, the category generated 5.07 per cent return in 2015 compared to 38.84 per cent logged in 2014.

What is Hedge Fund? Definition of Hedge Fund, Hedge Fund Meaning - The Economic Times (2024)

FAQs

What is Hedge Fund? Definition of Hedge Fund, Hedge Fund Meaning - The Economic Times? ›

Definition: Hedge fund is a private investment partnership and funds pool that uses varied and complex proprietary strategies and invests or trades in complex products, including listed and unlisted derivatives.

What is the definition of a hedge fund? ›

A hedge fund is a limited partnership of private investors whose money is pooled and managed by professional fund managers. These managers use a wide range of strategies, including leverage (borrowed money) and the trading of non-traditional assets, to earn above-average investment returns.

What is a hedge fund quizlet? ›

Hedge funds are private, actively managed investment funds, investing in a diverse range of markets, investment instruments, and strategies.

What is a hedge fund hedging? ›

Hedging is the process in which some studies refer to as risk management. The reason is that hedging allows organisations like hedge funds to diversify their portfolios in order to reduce risk. If hedging is done properly organisations or investors can try and provide themselves with their own type of insurance.

What is the legal definition of a hedge fund? ›

A hedge fund is a "private investment partnership (for U.S. investors) or an off-shore investment corporation (for non-U.S. or tax-exempt investors) in which the general partner has made a substantial personal investment, and whose offering memorandum allows for the fund to take both long and short positions, use ...

Why is it called a hedge fund? ›

In sum, hedge funds are called hedge funds because they use a full array of hedging techniques to reduce portfolio volatility. They are becoming increasingly popular, as private ownership of capital expands worldwide and large-scale capital owners seek to preserve their wealth in volatile markets.

Which statement best describes a hedge fund? ›

Question: Which statement best describes hedge funds: Hedge funds are largely unregulated and privately managed investment funds catering to sophisticated investors, which look to earn high returns using aggressive financial strategies similar to mutual funds.

How do hedge funds get funds? ›

A hedge fund raises its capital from a variety of sources, including high net worth individuals, corporations, foundations, endowments, and pension funds.

What is the difference between a hedge fund and a fund? ›

Mutual funds are regulated investment products offered to the public and available for daily trading. Hedge funds are private investments that are only available to accredited investors. Hedge funds are known for using higher-risk investing strategies with the goal of achieving higher returns for their investors.

How do hedge funds pay? ›

Hedge funds make money by charging a management fee and a percentage of profits. The typical fee structure is 2 and 20, meaning a 2% fee on assets under management and 20% of profits, sometimes above a high water mark. For example, let's say a hedge fund manages $1 billion in assets. It will earn $20 million in fees.

What does a hedge fund do for dummies? ›

A hedge fund pools investors' money to make high-risk investments with the aim of making huge returns.

What is hedging in simple words? ›

Hedging is a risk management strategy employed to offset losses in investments by taking an opposite position in a related asset. The reduction in risk provided by hedging also typically results in a reduction in potential profits. Hedging requires one to pay money for the protection it provides, known as the premium.

Do hedge funds make money? ›

Hedge fund makes money by charging a Management Fee and a Performance Fee.

Can anyone own a hedge fund? ›

You generally must be an accredited investor, which means having a minimum level of income or assets, to invest in hedge funds. Typical investors include institutional investors, such as pension funds and insurance companies, and wealthy individuals.

How much money do you need to own a hedge fund? ›

3 In exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires a majority of hedge fund investors to be accredited, which means possessing a net worth of more than $1 million and a sophisticated understanding of personal finance, investing, and trading.

Do hedge funds own property? ›

Many hedge funds, and companies with big budgets, have been buying up homes as well. Oftentimes, the hedge fund can pay all cash to the sellers and quickly turn the property into a rental, leaving families out of luck.

How much money is considered a hedge fund? ›

Shareholder requirements

Hedge funds only accept accredited investors. On top of that, hedge funds usually have very high minimum investments, like $1 million.

What is the difference between a hedge fund and a real money fund? ›

Real money managers are often referred to as institutional investors. The term real money means the money is managed on an unlevered basis. This contrasts with hedge funds, which often manage money using borrowed funds or leverage.

What is the difference between a hedge fund and a normal fund? ›

Mutual funds are regulated investment products offered to the public and available for daily trading. Hedge funds are private investments that are only available to accredited investors. Hedge funds are known for using higher-risk investing strategies with the goal of achieving higher returns for their investors.

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