Managed futures rose for the second month in a row, gaining 1.37 percent in May, according to flash estimates from the Barclay CTA Index.
“Inflation concerns in the U.S. and abroad drove global bond prices lower this month,” says Sol Waksman, founder and president of The Barclay Group. “Although bond prices declined throughout the month, global stock markets continued higher. Interest rates are still relatively low and we appear to be in a merger and acquisition boom driven by private equity.”
Seven out of Barclay’s eight CTA indices gained ground in May. The Diversified Traders Index was up 1.76 percent in May, Systematic Traders rose 1.54 percent, and the Financial and Metals Traders Index gained 1.46 percent.
Barclay’s Agricultural Traders Index was up 1.40 percent in May, following losses through the first four months of 2007.