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CHICAGO, (September 22, 2015) – Both new hedge fund launches and liquidations declined through mid-year 2015 as financial market volatility increased and HFRI performance topped equity markets through 1H15. New hedge fund launches totaled 252 in 2Q15, a narrow decline from 264 in the prior quarter but a slight YoY increase over the 2Q14 launch total of 240 new funds, according to the latest HFR Market Microstructure Report, released today by HFR? the established global leader in the indexation, analysis and research of the global hedge fund industry. With a total of 516 funds launched in 1H15, the number of new launches is on pace for its lowest level since 2010. As previously reported by HFR, total global hedge fund capital increased to a record $2.97 trillion through mid-year 2015.