StocksMediumUpdated•Originally published 16 April 2026•Updated 17 April 2026•
1 min read

Hedge Funds Set for Best Monthly Returns in a Decade via Long-Short Strategies

Key Facts

1BlackRock is urging investors to spread exposure across multiple hedge fund strategies to counter rapid market swings.
2The firm identifies AI-related disruption and geopolitical shifts as primary drivers of current market volatility.

Hedge funds are currently on track to deliver their strongest monthly returns in over a decade, propelled by the success of long-short stockpicking strategies. These strategies have surged 7.7% through Tuesday's close, marking the most robust monthly performance since 2016. This significant recovery follows a sharp downturn in March, which was triggered by heightened geopolitical tensions surrounding the Iran conflict. Previously, BlackRock had advised investors to diversify their holdings to navigate market swings driven by AI disruptions and political instability. The current performance data underscores a widening dispersion between market winners and losers, rewarding active management. Ultimately, this shift toward diversified strategies is proving vital for institutional portfolios seeking stability amidst macroeconomic uncertainty.