Trend-following strategies upped their equity exposures fromhistorically low levels during the recovery, according to Jon Caplis, chief executive of hedge fund research and intelligence firm PivotalPath. However, these funds could return to shorting the market in size if volatility continues picking up, especially due to the leverage, or borrowed money, they take on to boost returns.
“Commodity trading advisers are significantly levered, so they punch above their weight,” Mr. Caplis said. “It is a $250 billion industry that could easily represent over $1 trillion in position sizing.”