Kettera Strategies' August 2021 Report Spotlights Key Trends
In the world of hedge funds, August 2025 saw a number of standout performers in the realm of systematic trend programs and quantitative global macro strategies. This report, attributed to Hedge Funds Guest Articles under Hedge Funds - Managed Futures and copyrighted by The Sortino Group, highlights some of these elite performers.
The ECCM Systematic Trend Fund, for instance, has been notable for its proprietary directional futures model that captures long-term risk premia shifts across asset classes, including commodities and equities.
Typhon Capital Management’s Vulcan Metals Ultra program produced a strong +16.94% return as of March 2025, underscoring the strength in metals and possibly broader soft commodities exposure. Purple Valley Capital’s Diversified Trend 1 Program also impressed, returning +11.51% in March 2025, representing a diversified trend-following approach in managed futures which commonly includes soft commodities and equity futures.
Quanify GmbH's Chelton Wealth Balanced Compounding strategy showed +14.68% in February 2025, reflecting strong quantitative equity performance, likely using systematic factor-based or trend signals. Crescat Capital’s multi-strategy hedge funds excelled with a mix of global macro and resource sector focus, especially their activist metals strategies which have been key drivers for returns, indicating strong positioning in commodity-related macro exposures.
Quantitative equity strategies have been the best-performing hedge fund style over the past five years, emphasizing the strength of systematic, data-driven models in equities. However, systematic trend following overall remains challenged in 2025, with indices such as the SG Trend Index showing modest gains month-to-date (+1.05%) but negative year-to-date performance (-9.08%) as of early August 2025. This suggests selective strength in certain commodities and equities rather than broad trend persistence.
In summary, for August 2025, leading systematic trend programs combine proprietary directional models in futures (including soft commodities) and diversified quantitative equity strategies. Top quantitative global macro funds often leverage contrarian macro views in resource sectors to generate alpha.
Key representative funds and strategies include: - ECCM Systematic Trend Fund (directional futures) - Typhon Capital Vulcan Metals Ultra (metals/commodities) - Purple Valley Capital Diversified Trend 1 Program (diversified managed futures) - Quanify GmbH Chelton Wealth Balanced Compounding (quantitative equities) - Crescat Capital (global macro with natural resources focus)
These reflect the current elite performers reported through mid-2025 across soft commodities and equities domains.
It's important to note that long European fixed income and most commodities markets were detractors for systematic trend programs in August. The BarclayHedge Currency Traders Index and BTOP FX Traders Index are mentioned, as well as the Barclay Discretionary Traders Index, Barclay Ag Traders Index, and NilssonHedge Commodities CTA Index.
August was frustrating for directional trading in metals markets and crude and refined products, with the exception of natural gas long and bull spreads trades in the second half of the month. Some systematic trend programs that truly performed in August held exposures in soft commodities like coffee and sugar. Short-Term strategies struggled with the choppiness in many markets in August.
The Barclay Crypto Traders Index is mentioned, and the article reminds us that the views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of AlphaWeek or The Sortino Group. The Eurekahedge Long Short Equities Hedge Fund Index is mentioned, and equities were the best market sector for quantitative global macro in August.
Some quantitative global macro managers generated outlier returns from exposures in the energy complex or certain intermarket spread strategies. Long equities were the largest contributors to returns for systematic trend programs. The CBOE Eurekahedge Relative Value Volatility Hedge Fund Index is mentioned, and most relative value / arbitrage / spread programs in the agricultural commodities sector performed admirably in August. Short positions in corn and soybeans were profitable in August for agricultural commodities specialists.
The overall average for longer-term systematic trend programs in August was flat. The Eurekahedge-Mizuho Multi-Strategy Index is mentioned, and the Eurekahedge AI Hedge Fund Index is mentioned as well.
In conclusion, while systematic trend following faced challenges in 2025, selective strategies and a diversified approach have proven successful in certain sectors, particularly soft commodities and equities. As always, it's crucial to conduct thorough due diligence and risk assessment when considering investments in these funds.
- Investors interested in technology may find value in Quanify GmbH's Chelton Wealth Balanced Compounding strategy, as it demonstrated strong quantitative equity performance, likely using systematic factor-based or trend signals.
- For those focusing on finance and investing, funds like ECCM Systematic Trend Fund, Typhon Capital Management’s Vulcan Metals Ultra, Purple Valley Capital’s Diversified Trend 1 Program, and Crescat Capital are notable for their performances in systematic trend programs and quantitative global macro strategies, particularly in soft commodities and equities.
