Hedge Funds July Performance

According to a report from Chicago-based Hedge Fund Research Inc., hedge funds globally returned 0.49% in July. The gain, based on a sample of managers among the 6,500 surveyed, brought the average 2007 advance to 8%.

Macro-fund managers, who wager on trends in stocks, bonds and currencies worldwide, trailed peers in July with a 0.34% increase, bringing their returns to 5.9% on the year.

Early estimates from the HFN Hedge Fund Aggregate Average show +0.29% in July, the increase was the 2nd positive month in a row for hedge funds when the S&P 500 has been negative and 12th positive month in a row overall. Through the first seven months of 2007 the Aggregate is +7.65%, considerably outperforming the S&P 500 Total Return which ended June -3.10% and +6.01% YTD.

The influence of the difficulties facing subprime borrowers and lenders over the last few months began to be felt across most credit markets in July and filtered into equity markets near month's end. While there have been some high profile fund meltdowns in July, the reality of the hedge fund world is that despite their visibility, these funds under extreme stress represent a small percentage of a vast and diverse industry.

Whether when the dust settles the aggregate of all hedge funds is slightly positive or negative, the focus should be on the continuing significant outperformance of the group from broad equity markets. While results are still coming in, it appears performance in July was driven by funds with exposure to emerging markets and those able to take advantage of strong interest rate and commodity moves. The HFN Emerging Markets Average was +2.47% in July and is +14.51% YTD and was aided by strong moves in China, India and Russia's equity markets. The HFN Latin America Average was +2.49% in July and +19.81% YTD.

All Business Schools Launch Finance Career Resource Guide

With investment banking giant UBS forecasting the world economy to grow about 3.5 percent each year and rapid proliferation of multi-billion dollar hedge funds and private equity funds, All Business Schools announced the launch of it Finance Career Resource Guide. With pages devoted to both specific finance career paths and different types of finance degrees, the guide provides crucial information for those considering a career in one of the fastest growing and most lucrative industries.

Doug Rosenberg, product manager for All Business Schools, commented, "With job options ranging from high-tech, high-status investment banking to personable, interactive financial planning, there are a number of ways people can take advantage of the industry's consistent growth."

Finance salaries are among the highest in the business world, Rosenberg elaborates, saying, "finance is one of the few fields in which the earning potential is almost limitless."

To give readers a clear look at both aspects of entering a career in hedge fund finance, the resource center is organized into a finance degrees section and a finance careers section. The degrees section presents an overview of finance bachelor's, master's, MBA and PhD degrees, providing basic facts and sample program curricula. The careers section discusses finance careers at a general level and also breaks down three of the most popular finance careers--investment banking, corporate finance and financial planning--into career path charts that present a snapshot of entry-, mid- and high-level positions.

All Business Schools is a comprehensive online publisher of accredited business degree programs and business career resources. Since 2002, All Business Schools has been helping match millions of highly qualified prospective students with the schools that best meet their education needs.