The Statistical Properties of Hedge Fund Index Returns and Their Implications for Investors

42 Pages Posted: 6 Nov 2001

See all articles by Harry M. Kat

Harry M. Kat

Independent

Chris Brooks

University of Bristol - School of Economics, Finance and Management

Date Written: October 31, 2001

Abstract

The monthly return distributions of many hedge fund indices exhibit highly unusual skewness and kurtosis properties as well as first-order serial correlation. This has important consequences for investors. We demonstrate that although hedge fund indices are highly attractive in mean-variance terms, this is much less the case when skewness, kurtosis and autocorrelation are taken into account. Sharpe Ratios will substantially overestimate the true risk-return performance of (portfolios containing) hedge funds. Similarly, mean-variance portfolio analysis will over-allocate to hedge funds and overestimate the attainable benefits from including hedge funds in an investment portfolio. We also find substantial differences between indices that aim to cover the same type of strategy. Investors' perceptions of hedge fund performance and value added will therefore strongly depend on the indices used.

Keywords: hedge fund, hedge fund index, Sharpe Ratio, Mean-Variance analysis, skewness, kurtosis

JEL Classification: G00

Suggested Citation

Kat, Harry M. and Brooks, Chris, The Statistical Properties of Hedge Fund Index Returns and Their Implications for Investors (October 31, 2001). Cass Business School Research Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=289299 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.289299

Chris Brooks

University of Bristol - School of Economics, Finance and Management ( email )

School of Accounting and Finance
15-19 Tyndalls Park Road
Bristol, BS8 1PQ
United Kingdom

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