U.S. hedge fund assets increased 19% last year, to $972.6 billion, Hedge Fund Research Inc. said Thursday.
Investors poured in $27 billion during the fourth quarter, 59.8% more than in the third, the Boston data provider said.
Assets in hedge funds that seek companies facing bankruptcies, mergers, or acquisitions totaled $128.6 billion at yearend, 28% more than on Sept. 30, according to Hedge Fund Research's data. The hedge fund category with the most assets, $358.6 billion, was funds of funds - portfolios of shares of individual hedge funds.
The average hedge fund returned 9.64% last year, down from 15.44% in 2003 and trailing the average stock mutual fund, at 11.96%, Credit Suisse First Boston Tremont Index LLC and Lipper Inc. reported last week.











