Conclusion

Abstract

Hedge funds form part of the investment universe of numerous investors, but the secretiveness surrounding these funds left them vulnerable to a bad press for a long time, and more recent events have led to a fear of these investment products. There have been some fraud cases, of which Madoff was the apotheosis, and there has of course been the liquidity issues that directly affected the industry late in 2008. While cases of fraud have undeniably existed, they have remained marginal in an industry that at that time included over 10,000 funds. With regard to liquidity, we do have to concede that, unlike in 2002, the vast majority of hedge funds were not able to offer attractive returns in 2008. But is that a sufficient reason not to invest or to consider such products? Certainly not!