Alternative energy funds outperform in 2009 -HFR

* HFR Alternative Energy index up more than 47 percent in 2009

* Only 18 pct of hedge funds apply macro strategy, including commods

* Macro hedge funds estimated to hold assets over $289 billion at end 2009

NEW YORK, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Hedge funds specializing in alternative energies
outperformed the rest of those in the commodities space through 2009, data from
Chicago's Hedge Fund Research showed on Wednesday.

HFR's Alternative Energy Index was up 47.53 percent on the year, compared
with the 38.8 percent growth seen in the Metals Index and 2.15 percent in the
Energy Index.

The Alternative Energy Index comprises of funds investing in opportunities
present in clean sources of energy, HFR said.

But the hedge fund universe remained dominated by funds specializing in
equities and event-driven strategies, with only about 18 percent of the lot
pursuing the macro strategy, which commodities fell under, HFR data showed.

It also said the estimated assets held by hedge funds employing marco
strategies stood at just above $289 billion at the end of 2009, compared with the
figure of above $278 billion seen in 2008.

Monthly percentage gain/loss on HFR commodity indexes through 2009:
Index Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Year
Agri -1.10 0.48 0.87 1.14 2.33 2.72 0.63 -0.25 -1.27 -1.07 1.24 0.83 6.66
Energy -0.43 -1.91 1.28 0.03 2.03 -1.68 -0.45 2.26 -1.12 2.78 0.23 -0.76 2.15
Metals 4.91 1.19 5.41 -2.20 17.86 -6.99 1.38 -1.71 7.15 -0.89 7.15 2.03 38.8
Alt.Enr-0.07 -2.08 8.83 7.09 10.03 -2.64 6.45 1.27 4.58 -0.83 1.63 6.25 47.53

Share of hedge fund universe according to strategy:

Percentage share
Strategy
Equity Hedge 31.64
Event-Driven 25.85
Relative-value 24.44
Macro 18.07

(Reporting by Barani Krishnan; Editing by David Gregorio)