(HedgeCo.Net) Hedge funds delivered a broadly positive showing in September 2025, with the industry posting an average return of 1.3?% for the month. Reuters+2MarketScreener+2 That said, returns varied sharply across strategies, regions, and individual firms, underscoring ongoing dispersion in performance in the alternatives space.

According to a JPMorgan client note cited by Reuters, managers based in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East outpaced North American peers. Reuters+2MarketScreener+2 Equities drove much of the upside: global stocks rose about 3.4?% in September, while developed?market sovereign bonds added roughly 0.7?%. MarketScreener+2Reuters+2

At the top of the leaderboard, macro and systematic strategies posted standout gains. Bridgewater’s Pure Alpha flagship jumped nearly 6?% for the month, lifting its year?to?date return above 26?%. The Economic Times+3Reuters+3mint+3 Other Bridgewater vehicles, such as Asia Total Return and China Total Return, also posted double?digit YTD gains. mint+1

In the quant and systematic segment, Marshall Wace’s Eureka Fund delivered a 1.32?% monthly gain, pushing its YTD performance to about 8.0?%. Reuters+2mint+2 Its Market Neutral Tops unit recorded a milder 0.45?% gain for September, but still posted YTD gains exceeding 13?%. mint+1 Meanwhile, systematic stock?trading strategies have cumulatively advanced more than 13?% in 2025, according to Goldman Sachs data. mint+1

Multi?strategy funds exhibited more mixed results. Balyasny Asset Management was a rare bright spot in that category, adding 1.3?% in September and bringing its YTD return to roughly 10?%. The Economic Times+3mint+3Reuters+3 Other multi?strategy managers appeared more constrained, with several funds remaining relatively flat.

Elsewhere, pockets of dramatic outperformance appeared in niche and regional bets. China?focused equity hedge funds, for example, surged in response to Beijing’s stimulus measures: Hong Kong’s Triata Capital posted an estimated ~44?% return in September, pushing its Jan–Sept gains beyond 50?%. MarketScreener Yunqi Capital’s China fund also gained about 26?% before fees. MarketScreener But not all China plays were winners — some funds with lower net exposure underperformed in the rally. MarketScreener

Still, some firms are struggling under pressure. London?based Eisler Capital, for instance, announced a shutdown after weak returns and mounting operational costs made continued competition untenable. Financial Times

Analysts say the September snapshot is consistent with the broader year: volatility, dispersion, and selective alpha. “We see strong returns in macro, quant, and regional plays — but the dispersion is wide,” said one industry source. With markets still navigating central bank policy risk and concentrated positioning in megacap tech, hedge fund managers are entering Q4 with both caution and pockets of opportunity.