Reuters/Heinz-Peter Bader Markets have been brutalized in the first two weeks of 2016, with stocks getting slammed and oil hitting a 12-year low. The year is already shaping up to be another challenging one for hedge funds. Hedge funds this year are down 2.04% on average through Wednesday, according to data from Hedge Fund Research. To put it in perspective, hedge funds on average finished 2015 down 3.49%, according to HFR.  There have, however, been a few standout hedge funds in the first two weeks of 2016 trading.  Below are the top five performers, according to performance data compiled by HSBC. It's a marathon, not a sprint....