Goldman Sachs: Hedge fund positioning may create conditions for a rebound in US stocks, with short positions rising to the highest since September 2022

Gate News: On March 11, Goldman Sachs’ trading division released a report stating that the positioning structure of hedge funds in the U.S. stock market has created conditions for a significant rebound after recent volatility. The report shows that speculative investors largely maintain bullish positions at the individual stock level, while hedging through short positions in ETFs and stock index futures. Data from Goldman Sachs’ primary brokerage team indicates that the short positions in these products have risen to their highest levels since September 2022. This structure reflects market uncertainty caused by factors such as the Iran conflict, credit risks, and AI-related concerns. John Flood, head of Goldman Sachs’ Americas Equity Execution Services and partner, said that if positive news emerges and investors unwind their hedges, this structure could also drive a substantial market rally. “If headlines announce the end of the conflict, the index could quickly rise. It might increase by 2% to 3% in a short period, mostly driven by short covering in macro products,” Flood said. “Currently, the right tail risk is more extreme than the left tail risk,” meaning the potential for a sharp upward market move is greater. “With total exposure very high and large short positions in macro products, any positive news could trigger aggressive short covering.”