Renaissance’s RIEF back up just as Simons calls it quits

Big-name hedge fund managers are starting 2010 off with a bang, according to HSBC private bank’s performance data, which was obtained by The Post.

Winners include the usual suspects like John John Paulson and Dan Loeb. But even Jim Simons’ Renaissance Institutional Equities Fund, or RIEF, appears to be rebounding — up 4.74 percent through March.

Too bad Simons, founder of the $15B firm, retired in January. RIEF had become a bit of an embarrassment compared with Simons’ otherwise stellar record. RIEF was down 6 percent last year despite double-digits in the stock market, following a 16 percent drop in 2008.

Some other big-name returns through end of March:

Simon’s Renaissance Institutional Futures Fund: up 6.74 percent

John Paulson’s Paulson Credit Opportunities: up 7 percent

John Paulson’s Paulson Enhanced: up 9.14 percent

Thomas Kempner’s Davidson Kempner: up 5 percent

Richard Perry’s Perry Partners International: up 7 percent

Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Intl: up 7 percent

Dan Loeb’s Third Point Offshore up 15.36 percent