Right here’s only one well-known LTCM technique: The algorithm recognized conditions the place the unfold had widened between the yield on essentially the most lately issued 30-year U.S. Treasury bond and that of an “off-the-run” bond, comparable to one issued a yr earlier (primarily, a 29-year bond). Traditionally, traders pay a modest liquidity premium for “on-the-run” bonds (which implies their yields are barely decrease than the off-the-runs) however, on condition that each investments represented the identical “risk-free” publicity to the U.S. authorities, the concept was that the unfold between the 2 shouldn’t deviate too far for too lengthy. So, at instances when the liquidity premium rose and the yield unfold widened, the LTCM algorithm would place a brief place (promote) towards the on-the-run bond and an extended place (purchase) on the off-the-run. Historic imply reversion would do the remainder.
