More hedge funds launched in the third quarter than liquidated for the first time since mid-2008, when the financial crisis began to accelerate, according to data provider Hedge Fund Research.

In addition, the group's HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index returned to growth in November, after October's small decline snapped seven consecutive months of gains. The index rose 1.75%, pushing the year-to-date performance of that composite to just under 19%.