Hedge funds have opened the biggest short position on the S&P500 since December 2008, reflecting the extent of their bearish stance on the US economy.

Hedge funds held a net short position of 71,980 short contracts at August 16, according to a monthly report on global asset allocation from Societe Generale, which looks at positions reported to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. This is the biggest figure seen since December 2008, three months after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, when hedge funds held a net short position of 85,984 short positions.