Hedge funds run by women have outperformed those run by men, according to a report by the US professional services firm Rothstein Kass.

As reported by ‘Dealbook’, a news service of the NY Times, Rothstein Kass has produced an index which showed that female hedge fund managers had an average return of 8.95 per cent through the third quarter of last year, against the return of 2.69 per cent by the global hedge fund index.

The report accompanies results of the firm’s annual survey of women working in alternative investments, which illustrates persistent gender disparities on Wall Street. Only 16.8  per cent of hedge funds, 13 per cent of venture funds and 12 per cent of private equity funds were either owned or managed by women.

The index of outperforming women comprised 67 hedge funds.

The report says that women managers have some advantages over their male counterparts including being more risk-averse and being better able to avoid volatility.

The report reaffirms the view that women in the alternatives industry lack opportunities to prove themselves and some become discouraged.