Hope this is accessible (doubt it)
https://messaging-custom-newsletters.nytimes.com/dynamic/render?campaign_id=116&emc=edit_pk_20240806&instance_id=130920&isViewInBrowser=true&nl=paul-krugman&paid_regi=1&productCode=PK&regi_id=22268089&segment_id=174340&te=1&uri=nyt://newsletter/ed712733-6278-5409-b774-fc90061110fa&user_id=83d45440ead1d14c2a89a1e7221337d1

So it's really an allocation fund that includes commodities exposure, and as a result can display high volatility (SD).
David went back for an explanation on the -5% single day loss on BLNDX from a few years ago, and of course it was related to commodities.
This is not a fund for the squeamish.

AQR funds that may (or may not) be of interest - QDSNX - AQR Diversifying strategies (a Fund of AQR Funds).
Also, QLENX - AQR Long-short, QMNRX - AQR Market neutral.

How does one purchase AQR Funds? Don't you have to have a million to invest per fund?

You can purchase at FIDO with $2,500 Min.

Looking at the 5 yr chart, and if you ignore the current drop from July 16, BLNDX chart held up pretty well. Look at that Covid crash performance. Not sure why it could not navigate the current situation. All good things and such. Apologies to all the long time holders that I bought into it.

Firstrade and as you observed, E*Trade (Morgan Stanley) impose no transaction fees.
Here's the thread that was started when E*Trade first switched to $0 TF pricing.
https://mutualfundobserver.com/discuss/discussion/60484/anyone-buying-funds-at-e-trade
Unfortunately, Firstrade does not seem to provide any sort of fund list if you don't have an account. (I have a login from an account I closed ages ago that enables me to check fund availability by individual ticker, though I cannot put through a test trade.)
Fidelity generally allows you to purchase additional shares for $5/transaction using its automated investing system. You schedule purchases starting at least a couple of days in advance. Then after your initial trade executes, you cancel the remaining scheduled trades. Occasionally a fund may not be "eligible" for automated investing. Also, Fidelity offers some institutional funds with lower mins in IRAs than Fidelity requires in taxable accounts. No way (that I know) to see this except with an existing IRA account or by calling.
Schwab tends to set the lowest mins for opening a new position.
If you have $1M invested with Vanguard (Flagship customer level), Vanguard will give you 25 free TF fund trades per year. NTF funds don't reduce your allotment of free trades. Many people dislike Vanguard's interface. I'm okay with it - it is fully functional. Vanguard's service however is very poor, and it recently imposed several fees and rules that many including me found disturbing.

And now N225 is up 10% after yesterday on what's likely a relief rally. As I said in another thread, buckle up, folks!
(US futs this Tues premarket are up less than .5% so essentially treading water as of now.)

In the June Standpoint commentary for BLNDX, it stated it's biggest winners as:

Biggest Winners
Long U.S. and Japanese equities. Short soybeans, corn, and Japanese yen.

I guess holding Japanese equity will be their biggest loser in the next report. Still, YTD the fund is up 7.6% compared to a couple other notables from another thread, QDSNX at 5.7% and QQMNX at 9.8%. After several years holding BLNDX, I have to admit, QQMNX is a tempting alternative in this alternative field for a less bumpy ride and, so far, excellent returns (+12.1 3Y).

Per a request, this link is added to this thread.
The data shown is an indicative gauge of direction and isn't a monitor of trading in an open and active market. REF: Finviz shows about +5% at midnight for Japan; while the active and open market there is +10% at this time.
FINVIZ futures

This post will get buried very soon. Is it not possible to add FinViz to your opening post?
Thanks

Per a request, this link is added to this thread.
The data shown is an indicative gauge of direction and isn't a monitor of trading in an open and active market. REF: Finviz shows about +5% at midnight for Japan; while the active and open market there is +10% at this time.
FINVIZ futures

Is Fidelity ATP having trouble too?

Outage tracking website Downdetector.com reported that Schwab’s services were down for over 3,400 users, while Fidelity’s issues peaked at over 3,500 reports. Vanguard wasn’t immune either, with nearly 2,500 users reporting outages.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/what-happened-with-charles-schwab-what-effect-was-there-on-investments/ar-AA1ogQln

I am now checking out two "Market Neutral" funds, QQMNX and VMNFX, which held up very well and provided some protection during the recent market downturn. New managers have been at the helm of both funds since 2021.

Today, when the US stock market sees the biggest daily loss in nearly two years (S&P = -3%), "Market Neutral" funds QQMNX only lost 0.05% and VMNFX 0.07%.
Both funds also have excellent 3-year total returns (QQMNX = 12.07% and VMNFX = 15.54%), with standard deviations of less than 8.6%, since new management took over.
So far so good.

I now understand the title of this thread!
BLNDX is down 10% from its July 16 peak. SPY lost about 1.5% less. Did someone mention BLNDX is an All Weather fund? More like up the escalator and down the elevator.

"Tonight it's just your money, not your life. Everybody who really loved you a week ago still loves you tonight - and that's a heck of a lot more important than the numbers on a brokerage statement. The robins will sing, the crocuses will bloom, babies will gurgle, and puppies will curl up in your lap and drift happily to sleep even when the stock market goes temporarily insane."
- Louis Rukeyser 10/23/87
Full pithy episode (worth watching - lots of the comments/questions are still relevant today, esp. from John Templeton)
Louis Rukeyser on the 1987 Crash

... and for something lighter, SNL's parody of WSW following Black Monday.

If you choose to walk to the door of the article link, be careful where you step; as there are a lot of loose screws on the floor!
Trump blames Harris for markets downturn.

“Stock markets are crashing, job numbers are terrible, we're heading towards World War III, and we have two of the most incompetent "leaders" in history. This is not good!,” Trump posted in capital letters.

Story, if you're interested in the whole spew.

Per WSJ- hardly a "crash", but certainly a tech correction:
S&P 500 -2.02%
DJIA -1.92%
Technology -4.63%
and! ... DJT -8.56%

DonOLD is already out with a screed blaming the swoon on Harris' candidacy ... and I'm sure he'll be out with a follow-up when the markets roar higher, claiming it's 'anticipation' of his return to power. The overgrown toddler still wants to live in a heads-I-win, tails-you-lose world.
I've not made any stock moves yet today, btw.

Per WSJ- hardly a "crash", but certainly a tech correction:
S&P 500 -2.02%
DJIA -1.92%
Technology -4.63%
and! ... DJT -8.56%

Per WSJ- hardly a "crash", but certainly a tech correction:
S&P 500 -2.02%
DJIA -1.92%
Technology -4.63%
and! ... DJT -8.56%

Per WSJ- hardly a "crash", but certainly a tech correction:
S&P 500 -2.02%
DJIA -1.92%
Technology -4.63%
and! ... DJT -8.56%

No problem getting into Schwab just now. Per WSJ- hardly a "crash", but certainly a tech correction:
S&P 500 -2.02%
DJIA -1.92%
Technology -4.63%
DJT -8.56%