Brazilian macro hedge funds suffered losses of up to 24% in a single session after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's unexpected re-election triggered a sharp reversal in equities, currencies and interest rate markets, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The selloff followed weeks of strong gains driven by expectations that rival candidate Flávio Bolsonaro would secure victory and pursue tighter fiscal policies. Several prominent managers, including Vista Capital, Legacy Capital, Ace Capital and Mar Asset Management, had positioned for lower interest rates, a stronger Brazilian real and rising domestic equities, leaving portfolios exposed when the election outcome defied polling forecasts.
Vista Capital's Multiestratégia fund plunged 24% on Monday, while Mar Absoluto lost 15%. Legacy Alpha declined 8%, and an Ace Capital fund fell nearly 9%, all after fees. The losses contributed to the Brazilian hedge fund industry's worst trading day since 2017, with a benchmark of local funds falling approximately 3.9%.
The broader market experienced significant dislocation, with Brazil's Ibovespa equity index falling 18% over the week and the real weakening approximately 8.5% against the US dollar. Interest rate swaps rose by more than two percentage points as investors reassessed the outlook for fiscal spending, inflation and monetary policy under another Lula administration.
The losses have intensified pressure on an industry already struggling with persistent investor withdrawals. Brazilian hedge funds recorded net outflows of R$9.3bn ($1.7bn) in the first nine months of 2026, extending four consecutive years of redemptions, as elevated domestic interest rates encouraged investors to favour government bonds.
Equity-focused managers were also severely affected, with Encore Asset Management's equity fund declining 32% in a single session. The sharp reversal highlights the risks of concentrated political and macroeconomic positioning, particularly when crowded trades unwind simultaneously following unexpected market developments.
