John Paulson, the billionaire hedge-fund manager seeking to reverse record losses in 2011, posted a 13 percent decline last month in his Gold Fund as bullion and mining stocks fell, said a person briefed on the returns.

The loss leaves the fund, which can buy derivatives and other gold-related investments, down 23 percent this year.

Armel Leslie, a spokesman for New York-based Paulson & Co., which manages about $24 billion, declined to comment on the returns, some of which were reported earlier by Business Insider.