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Undeterred by coronavirus risk, hedge funds hunt cheap buys

Hedge funds that have suffered the most in the past week are those making long and short bets in the equity markets, followed by CTAs

Medical workers in Hong Kong hold a strike near Queen Mary Hospital to demand the government shut the city's border with China
Medical workers in Hong Kong hold a strike near Queen Mary Hospital to demand the government shut the city's border with China Photo: Getty Images

Hedge funds have “trimmed” stocks and other bets that are most exposed to the Chinese coronavirus outbreak, according to one allocator that tracks their positioning, but are now looking for buying opportunities in bombed-out Chinese markets and energy stocks.

The findings, from French asset manager Lyxor, suggest some professional investors are hunting for reasons to look past the deadly outbreak, which has now infected more than 20,000 people and killed at least 425; the vast majority in mainland China. Many market analysts are now predicting the virus’ spread will be contained by April or May.

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