LONDON (Reuters) -Hedge funds are fleeing the stocks of companies that provide discretionary items and services consumers want but do not need, in a sign they anticipate an economic downturn, a Goldman Sachs prime brokerage note showed. Hedge funds dumped long positions last week in consumer discretionary and it is the most net sold stock sector this year, said the note to clients seen by Reuters on Tuesday and published Friday. "Hedge funds dumping consumer discretionary stocks strongly suggests they’re bracing for economic trouble, likely a recession," Bruno Schneller, managing director at Erlen Capital Management, said.