Hedge Funds Turn Chaos Into Cash for Best Gains in 16 Years (1)

Hedge fund investors haven’t had it this good since the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

The $5 trillion industry posted its best returns since 2009 with gains of about 12.6% last year, according to data compiled by industry tracker Hedge Fund Research Inc. The banner year was made possible by markets that swung with artificial intelligence buzz, geopolitical shocks and interest rate uncertainty, all of which combined to create rich trading opportunities for strategies designed to thrive amid volatility.

Funds run by industry giants D.E. Shaw & Co., Millennium Management, Citadel, Point72 Asset Management and Qube ...