# SI401: Why Trend Following Wins in Chaos ft. Nick Baltas

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/top-traders-unplugged-761537/si401-why-trend-following-wins-in-chaos-ft-nick-baltas
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/top-traders-unplugged-761537/si401-why-trend-following-wins-in-chaos-ft-nick-baltas.md
Podcast: [Top Traders Unplugged](https://stenobird.com/podcast/top-traders-unplugged-761537)
Published: 2026-05-23T04:00:00+00:00
Episode link: http://localhost:8888/TopTradersUnplugged/ttu-2021/homepage/si401-why-trend-following-wins-in-chaos-ft-nick-baltas
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/321f70b1-9e3f-47a4-8bb5-01287853c39e.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/top-traders-unplugged-761537/episodes/si401-why-trend-following-wins-in-chaos-ft-nick-baltas
Duration seconds: 3676

## Resource

The world of systematic investing is evolving fast, and in this episode Nick Baltas joins Moritz Seibert to explore the explosive growth of QIS strategies, the current state of trend following in 2026, and the challenges facing systematic investors in today’s macro environment. They discuss crowding risks in quantitative strategies, the recent collapse in commodity curve carry, and why some trend managers continue to outperform through broader diversification and alternative markets. The conversation also dives into execution alpha, AI driven research workflows, inflation risks, and the ongoing institutional demand for systematic macro strategies. A sharp and highly practical discussion for anyone interested in trend following, QIS, commodities, and quantitative investing. ----- 50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE ----- Follow Niels on Twitter , LinkedIn , YouTube or via the TTU website . IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written  here . And you can get a free copy of my latest book “ Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio ” here . Learn more about the Trend Barometer here . Send your questions to  info@toptradersunplugged.com And please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on  iTunes  or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast. Follow Nick on Twitter . Follow Moritz on LinkedIn. Episode TimeStamps: 00:00 – Introduction to the episode 01:17 – Nick Baltas on AI, research, and market volatility 03:02 – Trend following performance update for May 2026 06:25 – What investors are focusing on in QIS strategies 10:14 – Is there cyclica…

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