Macro HF Trading Questions

How does trading work at a Macro HF? I am just learning about this industry, so I understand this will seem naive. At normal equity L/S HFs, analysts take a while to do research, then consult with the PM before making a trade through the HF execution trader. At Macro HF's, does the trader come up with a trade idea and immediately act on it? What type of trades do they make? Is it basically prop trading but with investor capital? What are ways you can break into this industry? Rates/FX trading at a bank? This is all very new to me.

4 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Anonymous Monkey

How does trading work at a Macro HF? I am just learning about this industry, so I understand this will seem naive. At normal equity L/S HFs, analysts take a while to do research, then consult with the PM before making a trade through the HF execution trader. At Macro HF's, does the trader come up with a trade idea and immediately act on it? What type of trades do they make? Is it basically prop trading but with investor capital? What are ways you can break into this industry? Rates/FX trading at a bank? This is all very new to me.

For your first question it depends on the fund. I don't think it is linked to macro strategies.

But it can be exactly as u describe:

Analyst do the research, speak with PM that does the sizing, and then orders are sent to the execution desk. It is so that analysts can focus more on research/analysis and don't waste time trading.

Or pm/analysts can directly trade ideas themselves.

Don't understand what u mean with prop trading. But again prop trading vs HF is not linked to macro strategies, u can do macro in a prop trading setup or a standard HF setup

Yes rates/fx trading at a bank, u can also directly start inside a HF, or u can go on the economist side or on the quant side too.

There are lot of ways to implement macro strategies. There is also room for equity futures and volatility products in macro strategies

 

Very good response above it all matters. But one thing I will add. Lots of non-equity funds the trader/pm are the same person. Cause FICC products work differently in how you size position and manage the path. While equity guys are looking at actual valuations etc…

So in that environment usually idea generation is mainly on the PM, the analyst does the deep work/analysis. May provide trade recommendations, themes or a catalyst to look for. Also overtime the analyst will be asked to keep updating certain framework models the firm/PM have created. 

 

Repellat voluptas dolorum neque ea est eum velit est. Dolorem et explicabo id nemo. Et blanditiis laudantium aut eius minus officia. Maiores odio dolor id neque officiis officiis. Voluptates ut voluptatem quod praesentium. In maxime ut quia magnam quibusdam impedit.

Dolor libero et quo sit ducimus consequatur ab. Id dolores temporibus ea et dolores debitis.

 

Ipsa veniam hic voluptatem itaque veniam qui. Eos provident ratione eos iure. Dolores aut magnam sed aut quas incidunt iure. Quos deleniti dolore saepe id voluptate qui.

Quidem et amet aliquid doloribus minima. Est eos hic ut atque omnis vel neque soluta. Quia sint ipsa aut fugiat reprehenderit ab. Illo asperiores natus quam eaque.

Ea reiciendis corporis perspiciatis dolores. Ipsa aut quibusdam et eum optio. Quis numquam temporibus quis. Ad suscipit inventore dicta consequuntur.

[Comment removed by mod team]
 

Dolores illo magni doloremque tempore. Sint qui accusantium a et. Quia nobis sed consequuntur unde id natus asperiores officiis. Laudantium impedit asperiores autem tempora odio perspiciatis dolores maiores. Voluptas ut sit dolor. Voluptas omnis sint dignissimos et eius natus dolorum. Nemo amet a molestias ut et vero cumque.

[Comment removed by mod team]

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.1%
  • AQR Capital Management 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.1%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Blackstone Group 97.0%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.0%
  • Millennium Partners 95.0%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.0%
  • Point72 98.1%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.2%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (12) $423
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (86) $288
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (77) $191
  • Analysts (242) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (29) $145
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (282) $96
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”