Overview of Managed Futures

:: Modern Portfolio Theory

In our opinion, almost every investment advisor will agree is that diversification is key to a successful portfolio.  Historically investors have “diversified” by investing in various stocks, bonds and mutual funds.  According to Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT), however, portfolios consisting only of stocks, bonds and mutual funds are not adequately diversified.  In his article Portfolio Selection, Professor Harry Markowitz illustrated that holding stocks, bonds and mutual funds does not adequately lower an investor’s risk because each of those types of investments move in concert with each other.  He concluded that diversification “reduces risk only when assets are combined whose prices move inversely, or at different times, in relation to each other.”

In other words, investors can properly diversify their portfolios only when investing in different asset classes having no correlation with each other.  Since stocks, bonds and mutual funds are all of the same asset class and generally move in concert with each other, an alternative investment solution is needed to properly diversify a portfolio.

:: Alternative Investments

The term “alternative investment” generally refers to any investment in which the successful performance does not depend on continued upward movement in the stock market.  Alternative investments are also described as “absolute return” strategies, meaning investment strategies that should perform well each year whether the stock market goes up, down or sideways. This does not mean that alternative investments always make money—it merely means that a continued decline in the stock market should not present a material risk for a true alternative investment strategy.  In uncertain times like these, alternative investments can make a big difference in the performance of overall portfolios.

Alternative investments include investments such as real estate, venture capital, hedge funds, fund of funds, and managed futures.  These comments focus on managed futures—what they are and why they are becoming the preferred alternative investment strategy.

:: Managed Futures Defined

You do not need a professional money manager to invest in futures.  However, the futures markets are so vast that it is difficult, if not impossible, for an individual to master more than a small segment of trading.  The term “managed futures” describes a managed approach to futures market participation whereby professional money managers called commodity trading advisors (“CTAs”), trade futures and forward contracts pursuant to a limited power-of-attorney or limited trading authorization.  CTAs are professional money managers specializing in trading futures and forward contracts. The term “CTA”, however, is a misnomer—while futures and forward contracts may represent agricultural products, energies, cattle, hogs, metals, and other commodities, many CTAs also focus on trading currencies, financial instruments, stock indexes and single stock futures.  CTAs work full time to trade and manage investments and are registered with the National Futures Association.

Investors may engage a CTA to trade individually managed accounts or invest collectively with other individuals in a pool or fund, thus sharing the potential risk and rewards of many different markets among investors in the pool or fund.

When investing in managed futures, the goal is to profit from moves in the contract prices of commodities, stocks, bonds and currencies, not an appreciation in value of the underlying asset.  Each CTA employs his or her own strategy for profit maximization.  There are thousands of CTAs and hedge fund managers; some of them are experts and some are not.  It can take years to understand their strategies and distinguish the skilled from the unskilled traders. This is where Altavra can help.

:: Suitability

Although managed futures can provide badly needed portfolio diversification to portfolios, only investors with risk capital who understand and appreciate the risks and rewards involved in trading futures should invest in managed futures.  Investors should not treat managed futures as a short term trading opportunity.  Because futures markets tend to be cyclical, investors should plan to hold an individually managed account, pool or fund investment for at least two to three years.

IRAs and other self directed plans can invest in managed accounts, pools and funds as long as the plan permits such investments.  If the plan’s custodian does not accept alternative investments, the investor will have to open an account with another custodian that does.

:: Benefits of Managed Futures

Growing numbers of corporate, institutional and individual investors have been allocating a portion of their portfolio’s assets to managed futures accounts.  According to the Chicago Board of Trade, in 2002, an estimated $45 billion was under management by trading advisors.  Just two years later in a study released by the Barclay Group, money under management during the 4th quarter 2004 had grown to $131.9 billion.  Today, in 2007, that total is nearing $180 billion.  Some of the reasons for the increased interest in managed futures include:

..:: Opportunity to Reduce Risk and Enhance Returns

Over the long term managed futures have been negatively correlated to traditional stock and bond portfolios when they have experienced prolonged losses, and positively correlated when they have experienced prolonged gains.  That means that investors who add managed futures to their portfolios may benefit by reducing overall volatility and enhancing overall returns.

The following data illustrates the benefits of managed futures over the S&P 500 and NASDAQ for 2000 to 2003:

The data shows that the average rate of returns for managed futures was negatively correlated with the NASDAQ and the S&P 500 during the down years of 2000, 2001 and 2002 and positively correlated with the NASDAQ and the S&P 500 during the recovery in 2003. This data supports the conclusion that there is little or no correlation between managed futures and traditional equity markets.

Both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ experienced significant losses from 2000 through 2002.  Managed futures, on the other hand, only experienced a relatively small loss which was recouped in only 3 months.

..:: Ability to Profit in Any Economic Environment

CTAs can take advantage of price trends.  During periods of inflation, they can buy futures contracts in anticipation of a rising market.  Conversely, they can sell futures contracts if they anticipate a falling market.  As shown from the data above, the potential for profit exists regardless of the overall direction of traditional markets.

..:: Expanding Markets and Global Diversification

During the last decade, the futures markets have expanded to include single stock futures, stock indexes, debt instruments, currencies and options, in addition to conventional commodities.  These new categories created global markets, expanding the scope of investment opportunities even more.  In fact, as of September 30, 2002, there were approximately 900 futures and options contracts authorized for trading by the CFTC .

..:: Hypothetical Portfolios

Contrary to popular belief, research shows that portfolios including managed futures generate higher returns and have less volatility than portfolios that do not include managed futures.  The following chart shows the returns, volatility and Quick Sharpe Ratio for stocks, bonds, and managed futures from January 1990 through December 2003.  The data clearly shows that managed futures generated a higher return than stocks and bonds and had lower volatility than stocks during that 14 year period.

Based on the data above, we can calculate returns in hypothetical portfolios allocating various amounts to stocks, bonds and managed futures, enabling us to compare the performance of portfolios including managed futures to those that do not.  Consider the following three hypothetical portfolio allocations:

Based on the returns from January 1990 through December 2003, it is clear that hypothetical Portfolio C, the only portfolio including managed futures, generated the highest reward and had the lowest risk.

Note: This composite performance record is hypothetical and these trading advisors have not traded together in the manner shown in the composite. Hypothetical performance results have many inherent limitations, some of which are described below. No representation is being made that any multi-advisor managed account or pool will or is likely to achieve a composite performance record similar to that shown. In fact, there are frequently sharp differences between a hypothetical composite performance record and the actual record subsequently achieved. One of the limitations of hypothetical performance results is that they are generally prepared with the benefit of hindsight. In addition, hypothetical trading does not involve financial risk, and no hypothetical trading record can completely account for the impact of financial risk in actual trading. For example, the ability to withstand losses or to adhere to a particular trading program in spite of trading losses are material points which can also adversely affect actual trading results. There are numerous other factors related to the markets in general or to the implementation of any specific trading program which cannot be fully accounted for in the preparation of hypothetical performance results and all of which can adversely affect actual trading results.

:: Managed Futures vs. Other Alternative Investments

..:: Similarities

There are many similarities between managed futures, hedge funds and fund of funds. All of these investments provide:

1. Diversification to a typical portfolio of stocks and bonds

2. Professional investment management

3. Access to different investment strategies, styles, and markets

4. Returns that are highly dependent on the talent and skill of specific managers instead of general market appreciation.

..:: Differences

In addition to these shared characteristics, managed futures offer greater accessibility, transparency, liquidity and security than most alternative investments.

1. Managed futures trading is more accessible to investors because managed futures accounts tend to have lower commitment requirements than many other alternative investments and managed futures accounts may accept daily subscriptions and redemptions.

Most alternative investments require a larger capital commitment and offer far less liquidity than managed futures.  In most cases, investors can open individually managed accounts and add additional capital to or redeem capital from that account anytime the investor so desires.  Most hedge funds and fund of funds, on the other hand, accept subscriptions from new investors and additional capital contributions from existing investors’ capital typically on a monthly basis.  Further, many hedge funds and fund of funds are closed to new investment and the open funds only accept new capital contributions monthly or quarterly after they begin trading. Typically, hedge funds and fund of funds only allow for monthly or quarterly redemption.

2. Managed futures provide greater transparency than other alternative investments.

Full transparency means that investors can see each individual trade made by a manager.  The brokerage firm holding individually managed accounts will send investors confirmations on each trade—ensuring transparency.  Depending on the brokerage firm the investor selects, investors in individually managed accounts will likely also have online access to their accounts.

Hedge funds and funds of funds often trade exotic over-the-counter (“OTC”) instruments that cannot be easily priced because they are traded in unregulated, non-public markets and many do not report trading activity to investors on a daily or monthly basis.  Thus, investors in hedge funds and fund of funds generally do not have transparency into the fund’s underlying holdings.

3. Managed futures may have greater liquidity than hedge funds and funds of funds.

Futures contracts are highly liquid and can usually be bought or sold in a matter of seconds.  The only exception to this rule is when prices are very volatile and a contract trades through its daily price limit or stock prices trigger a “circuit breaker” between the equities markets and futures markets.  Since the interbank currency market is one of the biggest markets in the world and is open twenty four hours, seven days a week, it is also highly liquid.  Therefore, it is usually easy to open, roll or offset a futures contract or currency position.  OTC derivative contracts, on the other hand, may be complicated and costly to close out early if a hedge fund manager needs to liquidate a position before it is due to expire.

4. Managed futures may provide investors greater security than hedge funds and funds of funds.

Capital invested in managed futures accounts is held in customer segregated funds accounts.  CFTC Regulations prohibit Futures Commission Merchants (“FCMs”) from using segregated account funds in the conduct of their business or commingling those funds with the FCM’s own funds.  Therefore, segregated accounts may provide greater security for customer assets than many bank or securities brokerage accounts used by hedge funds and fund of funds.  Further, investors control assets in a managed account, whereas the general partner controls assets in a fund.

:: Structuring Your Portfolio

..:: Notional Funding

Notional funding is the term used for funding an account below its nominal value.  For example, assume a CTA requires a minimum investment of $1,000,000 (the “Nominal Value”) and the margin requirement is $50,000.  The investor can either deposit $1,000,000 to “fully fund” that minimum investment requirement or she can invest only a portion of the $1,000,000, as long as she meets the $50,000 margin requirement.

Now assume that the investor decides to fund the $1,000,000 account with $100,000 (the “Funding Level”).  This means that the investor is using leverage of 10X—ten times $100,000 equals the $1,000,000 minimum investment.  The difference between the Nominal Value ($1,000,000) and the Funding Level ($100,000) is $900,000.  The $900,000 is referred to as “Notional Funding”.

Investors are interested in using notional funding because notional funding capitalizes on the free cost of leverage.  The leverage is free because the notionally funded amount (in this case, the $900,000) is not borrowed or deposited—the Funding Level ($100,000) is a good faith deposit for the full value of the account.  In other words, the $100,000 trades as if it were $1,000,000, even though the investor only deposited $100,000 and is not paying interest or has not otherwise borrowed the remaining $900,000.  If the account is doing well, the investor earns money on the full $1,000,000—even though she only funded the account with $100,000.  If the account is not doing well, however, the investor is responsible for the amount lost, regardless as to the original Funding Level, up to the Nominal Value.

For example, assume that the account has a profitable year and the CTA reports profits of 20% ($200,000) for the fully funded account.  The account that was only funded with $100,000 also had $200,000 in gains—but the investor’s profit percentage was 200%, because the investor earned $200,000 on a $100,000 investment.  Investors must be aware, however, that this is a double edged sword. If the account has a draw-down, the investor will suffer a significantly larger percentage decline than the fully funded account.  If the example above suffered a 20% drawdown for the fully funded account, the notionally funded account would have a 200% drawdown.  In such a situation, the investor would not only have lost her initial $100,000 investment, but also an additional $100,000.  Furthermore, to keep the account open, the investor would have to deposit at least enough cash to cover the margin requirement.

In this regard, notional funding significantly increases the volatility of an account.  Investors must ensure that they understand how much leverage the CTA is using—and the consequences such leverage might entail.

..:: Multi-Manager Portfolio vs. Single-Manager Portfolio

Since alternative strategies are, by definition, not buy-and-hold strategies, the fact that there may be numerous stocks or other instruments in an account at any given time does not constitute diversification.  Because the manager will trade in and out of those positions frequently, the return depends on the manager’s trading skill rather than the longer-term performance of the underlying instruments.  Therefore, even if a single manager directs the assets into many different positions (stocks, bonds, futures, etc.) in an individually managed account, the account is not truly diversified because all of the positions are controlled by the same manager.  Investors should thus consider allocating a portion of their investments among several managers.  They may also want to consider whether a fund structure might be more beneficial than individually managed accounts.

..:: Individually Managed Accounts vs. Commodity Pools vs. Fund of Funds

Individually managed accounts (“Managed Accounts”) are an arrangement by which the holder of an account gives written power of attorney to a CTA to buy and sell futures contracts and options without prior approval of the holder.

Commodity pools (“Pools”) are an investment trust, syndicate, or similar form of enterprise whereby multiple participants invest collectively (or “pool” their funds) in trading commodity futures or options and share ratably in profits and losses.  The Pool may be managed by a single CTA or several CTAs.

Fund of funds (“FoFs”) are collective investment vehicles typically organized as limited partnerships or limited liability companies in which a fund invests in other funds or commodity pools rather than directly in futures and options contracts.  Investors in a FoF enjoy instant diversification among numerous funds and CTAs, typically across numerous industries and via numerous strategies.  Some FoFs are extremely diversified and allocate their assets to 100 or more managers while others concentrate their investments among only a few managers.  As with other investments, generally speaking a more diversified FoF will provide smoother (less volatile) performance than one that is concentrated.  Certain FoFs focus on a particular sector within the alternative investments industry (i.e. futures or fixed income) while others allocate across the broad industry.

The risk of loss in trading futures, options and off-exchange forex can be substantial.

Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results.

Disclosure Statement

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The risk of loss in trading futures, options and off-exchange forex can be substantial.

Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results.

Altavra Incorporated is a Florida corporation, registered with the NFA and the CFTC. 

Altavra Incorporated is a registered Introducing Broker guaranteed by Peregrine Financial Group, Inc. 

Peregrine Financial Group, Inc. is a licensed, registered Futures Commission Merchant.

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