Hedge funds gained 1.32% in April according to the Barclay Hedge Fund Index compiled by BarclayHedge. Year-to-date the Index is up 3.24%.

"Higher prices for equities and bonds in April provided an accommodating environment for most hedge fund strategies," says Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge.

"Strength in the bond market despite US dollar weakness and a well bid equity market took many participants by surprise," says Waksman. "Yet looking at the positive returns of fixed income-based strategies in April, it appears that hedge fund managers were not caught unawares.

All but two of Barclay's 18 hedge fund indices had gains in April. The Barclay Healthcare & Biotechnology Index was up 3.45%, Technology gained 2.67%, Global Macro was up 1.96%, Emerging Markets gained 1.82%, and the European Equities Index rose 1.78%.

"Hedge funds have made steady progress since September of 2010, as evidenced by eight straight months of gains for the Barclay Hedge Fund Index," says Waksman.

The Equity Short Bias Index has lost ground for eight months in a row and gave up another 1.94% in April. Equity Short Bias is down 7.66% year-to-date.

The Barclay Fund of Funds Index gained 1.14% in April and is up 1.98% in 2011.

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