Group 1 - The dispersion trade has gained popularity among Wall Street hedge funds, with some investors now taking the opposite position [1][3] - The US equity market has shown low volatility since August, with the Cboe Volatility Index remaining below its long-term average of 20 since mid-June, despite significant individual stock price movements [2][3] - Hedge funds are increasing bets on calm in the broader equity market while expecting wider swings in individual stocks, but the trade has become "extremely crowded" [3][4] Group 2 - A hedge fund has decided to go against the prevailing trend by implementing a reverse dispersion trade, indicating a high level of implied volatility for single stocks compared to the index [4] - The current market conditions suggest a structural supply of volatility, which may have a depressing effect on options pricing [5] - Historical context shows that low volatility conditions can persist longer than expected, as evidenced by the 2018 Volmageddon episode [6] Group 3 - The calm in the index can be attributed to significant swings in individual stocks, where large price movements in opposite directions can neutralize their overall impact on the index [7] - The reverse strategy employed by the hedge fund carries risks, particularly from idiosyncratic loss exposure when individual stocks experience dramatic price spikes [8]