The History of Long/Short Investing
Long/short investing is a strategy where portfolio managers take long positions in stocks they expect to appreciate and short positions in stocks they expect to decline. This approach, popular among hedge funds, has become a cornerstone of alternative investing. Before investing in a long/short strategy, it’s important to understand how the strategy got its start.
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The concept of a "hedged fund" is credited to Alfred Winslow Jones, an American investor and sociologist. In 1949, Jones launched a fund that combined long and short positions, aiming to reduce risk while capitalizing on both rising and falling markets.
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Jones’ strategy didn’t attract widespread attention until the 1960s, when a Fortune magazine article highlighted its success. The article coined the term "hedge fund" and revealed that Jones’ fund had outperformed the best mutual fund over the previous five years by 44%, even with its higher management fees.
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This exposure catapulted the strategy into the spotlight, leading to the creation of over 130 hedge funds within just three years. Today, there are more than 6,900 long/short hedge funds, with 26% of hedge funds following this strategy. Thanks to Alfred Winslow Jones’ innovation and advancements in modern technology, it's now easier than ever to invest in a strategy that seeks to minimize risk while benefiting from both market momentum and downturns.
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