Key Points
- 50% of surveyed investors plan to invest in discretionary global macro hedge funds within the next year.
- Interest in macro hedge funds rose 9% from the previous survey in autumn 2024.
- Global macro funds gained 7% through April 2025, outperforming the broader hedge fund sector.
- Multi-strategy hedge funds also gained traction, with systematic and fundamental approaches increasing by 5% and 4%, respectively.
Hedge funds that focus on navigating large-scale macroeconomic shifts have become the preferred choice for investors, according to a new survey by Société Générale, reflecting growing concerns over tariff volatility and global trade instability.
The survey, conducted between November 2024 and May 15, 2025, polled 322 investment firms and revealed that 50% of respondents plan to allocate funds to discretionary global macro hedge funds in the next 12 months. This marks a 9% increase in interest compared to SocGen’s previous survey from autumn 2024.
Global discretionary macro hedge funds, which rely on human decision-making rather than algorithmic models, have delivered solid returns in the current volatile environment. According to hedge fund analytics firm PivotalPath, these funds posted 7% gains through April 2025, outperforming the broader hedge fund industry, which has remained mostly flat.
Investor enthusiasm for macro hedge funds is now at its highest level in two years, according to the bank’s data. This surge is likely driven by the funds’ ability to adapt to shifting market landscapes, including geopolitical tensions and erratic monetary policies.
The survey also found a 10% increase in interest in equity market-neutral funds, which maintain balanced portfolios of long and short stock positions to reduce exposure to broad market movements.
Conversely, crypto hedge funds saw the lowest investor interest, with only 6% of respondents expressing intent to allocate capital to the sector, its weakest showing in two years. Market volatility and regulatory uncertainties may be contributing to this decline.
Interest in multi-strategy hedge funds also increased, with around one-third of investors expressing an intention to invest in systematic and fundamental multi-strategy funds, showing modest gains of 5% and 4%, respectively, since the previous year. These funds combine diverse strategies under one umbrella, offering greater flexibility in turbulent markets.
The findings suggest a clear shift among investors toward more adaptable and risk-managed hedge fund strategies amid ongoing global economic turbulence.
