Jan 27 (Reuters) - Hedge funds that specialize in picking stocks started 2022 with losses, investors and research firms said this week as markets went on a rollercoaster ride fueled by fears of rising interest rates and geopolitical turmoil. Data from Morgan Stanley, which works with the world's biggest and most powerful hedge funds, show that global hedge funds were off 3.1% in the first three weeks of January, according to a source with direct knowledge of the research. Morgan Stanley declined to comment.