Consumer gloom and macro doom starve US hedge fund managers

Higher interest rates have cooled the US economy as firms control costs, dashing hopes of a US consumer-led upturn

Managers' and economists' views on the US economy range from uncertain to desperate, and opportunities, they say, are few for long/short equity managers operating in the market.

Where opportunities for performance do exist they are generally through stock picking, experts say, but despite the general dearth of opportunities, commentators note institutional investors are unlikely to turn their backs on hedge funds while they outperform equity markets.

According to Haydn Davies, chief economist at