AQR Capital Management explains why trend following may be well suited for a world where macro volatility is back. It argues the 2010s were unusually calm, so investors anchoring on that decade may be underestimating future opportunity and risk. The note points to 2022 as a reminder that traditional diversification can fail when stocks and bonds struggle together.
Trend-Following: Why Now? A Macro Perspective
AQR
Research
17 Pages
Key Takeaways
Volatility regime shift: The authors expect bigger, longer market moves to remain common in the near term.
Diversification under stress: Trend strategies aim to help when balanced portfolios face simultaneous equity and bond pressure.
Behavioral staying power: Process tweaks can make trend exposure easier to hold through inevitable rough stretches.