Discretionary global macro managers can produce strong returns (that is, they outperform both
relative to indices and in absolute terms) during periods of uncertainty or crisis. As they are
best known for their contrarian, fast-moving nature, discretionary global macro managers can
switch positions in a moment’s notice when the facts and circumstances change. Their ability to
understand the impact of global events—whether positive or negative on financial market prices—
enables them to be better positioned to make money when other market participants are frozen
with uncertainty. As shown in the following example, many discretionary global macro managers
understood in mid-2008 that with the global economy beginning to soften and commodity demand
being eroded, the price of oil would peak and freefall from its all-time highs (Figure 5). As a result,
many discretionary managers shorted WTI Crude Oil at the onset of the credit crisis; in this case,
managers anticipated that a global economic slowdown (which had just begun to appear in the
economic data) could not support the all-time high prices within the oil markets and successfully
shorted oil to profit from this disconnect.