Optimism about hedge funds rises

June 30, 2009 | By Jim Kim

Hedge funds got off to a good start this year. For the first half, they have risen nearly 10 percent on average, according to Hedge Fund Research. The last time the industry got off to such a strong start was in 1999, when the average fund returned 12.5 percent in the first six months of the year, according to FinAlternatives. The website notes that hedge funds are still a long way from making up their big losses from 2008, when the average hedge fund lost 20 percent or so.

This is good news of course. For true financial entrepreneurs out there, this is the ideal time to start a hedge fund. No time like the worst time. Hey, it's all upside from here. The New York Times offers an interview with one such start-up. But it is a new world and the attitude seems to have morphed--this is probably a good thing. "Arrogance and mystery are out; liquidity and transparency are in," says the article. Also "in" are lower fees.

For more:
- here's the New York Times article