Rising Hedge Fund Launches Not Enough (Hedge Nordic) Stockholm (HedgeNordic) – New hedge fund launches are on the rise, but closures continue to outpace launches for a fourth consecutive quarter. According to HFR, an estimated 153 new hedge funds were launched in the second quarter, whereas 186 funds closed their doors during the quarter. According to the latest HFR Market Microstructure Report, an estimated 289 hedge funds opened up in the first half of 2019, with new launches increasing for a second consecutive quarter. The industry welcomed 561 new hedge funds last year, which represented the lowest annual figure for launches since 2000. Hedge fund closures amounted to 399 in the first half of 2019, the highest annualized pace for liquidations since 2016, when 1,016 funds were closed. The second quarter of 2019 represents the fourth consecutive quarter in which hedge fund closures exceeded new launches.