Europe rushes to exit hedge funds

Rich Europeans, who were the first to invest in hedge funds and comprised the majority of investors, have been the first to exit in the downturn, according to a study by the Bank of New York Mellon and research firm Casey Quirk. High net worth individuals last year accounted for 80% - or more than $500bn - of hedge fund redemptions, although they only held two-thirds of the assets. The outflows were disproportionately European, the study found.