Hedge funds are currently experiencing their steepest margin calls since the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, according to reports. The financial strain has prompted significant sell-offs in the market, particularly impacting major indices and stocks. On Friday, futures for the Nasdaq 100 fell sharply, with declines of 600 points in the morning and further dropping by 1,100 points by the afternoon. Notable stocks affected included Microsoft (MSFT), which was priced at $359, Amazon (AMZN) at $171, and Alphabet (GOOG) at $147. The market turmoil has raised concerns about the potential for further declines as hedge funds navigate these challenging conditions.