The source specifies: "Hedge funds are one category of alternative investment funds. Alternative investment funds invest in a variety of global assets, including property and commodities, and they often have a high degree of flexibility around how they invest. Hedge funds are a type of alternative investment fund which use this freedom to pursue a wide variety of strategies in many different asset classes: some run very concentrated portfolios; others pursue complex trading strategies characterised by high levels of turnover; and others employ high levels of leverage."

The survey data was obtained from 52 management firms, which collectively manage USD 623 billion of hedge fund assets globally. Although none of the 132 funds surveyed are domiciled in the UK, the 52 firms nevertheless manage a stated USD 265 billion out of the UK.