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EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - GLOBAL MACRO TRUSTFinancial_Report.xls
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EX-32.02 - EX-32.02 - GLOBAL MACRO TRUSTc765-20150331ex3202e13e5.htm

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

 

 

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended:   March 31, 2015

or

 

 

 

 

 

Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

Commission File Number: 000-50102

 

 

GLOBAL MACRO TRUST

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

 

Delaware

 

36-7362830

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

Identification No.)

 

 

c/o MILLBURN RIDGEFIELD CORPORATION

411 West Putnam Avenue

 

Greenwich, Connecticut  06830

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (203) 625-7554

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

Yes          No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

 

Yes          No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

 

 

 

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Yes          No 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Macro Trust

 

Financial statements

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statements of Financial Condition (a)

 

 

Condensed Schedules of Investments (a)

 

 

Statements of Operations (b)

 

 

Statements of Changes in Trust Capital (b)

 

 

Statements of Financial Highlights (b)

 

 

Notes to the Financial Statements

 

 

10 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a) At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (unaudited)

 

(b) For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Macro Trust

Statements of Financial Condition (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

December 31, 2014

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

EQUITY IN TRADING ACCOUNTS:

 

 

 

 

 

Investments in U.S. Treasury notes – at fair value

 

 

 

 

 

(amortized cost $37,248,775 and $27,555,881)

$

37,254,642 

 

$

27,560,017 

Net unrealized appreciation on open futures and

 

 

 

 

 

forward currency contracts

 

6,092,507 

 

 

2,573,582 

Due from brokers

 

10,610,521 

 

 

6,118,430 

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (cost $742,833 

 

 

 

 

 

and $2,849,059)

 

685,914 

 

 

2,621,704 

Total equity in trading accounts

 

54,643,584 

 

 

38,873,733 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTMENTS IN U.S. TREASURY NOTES – at fair value

 

 

 

 

 

(amortized cost $181,109,357 and $190,875,374)

 

181,151,888 

 

 

190,874,789 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

13,492,075 

 

 

16,954,930 

ACCRUED INTEREST RECEIVABLE

 

188,074 

 

 

188,240 

TOTAL

$

249,475,621 

 

$

246,891,692 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND TRUST CAPITAL

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Subscriptions by Unitholders received in advance

$

348,000 

 

$

470,000 

Net unrealized depreciation on open futures and forward currency contracts

 

1,441,535 

 

 

684,078 

Due to Managing Owner

 

61,408 

 

 

 -

Accrued brokerage and custodial fees

 

1,203,762 

 

 

1,188,401 

Accrued management fees

 

33,989 

 

 

30,904 

Redemptions payable to Unitholders

 

3,697,691 

 

 

2,807,481 

Redemption payable to Managing Owner

 

 -

 

 

719,598 

Accrued expenses

 

183,393 

 

 

190,677 

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (cost $118,489 and $195,152)

 

108,665 

 

 

211,347 

Other liabilities

 

251,776 

 

 

 -

Total liabilities

 

7,330,219 

 

 

6,302,486 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRUST CAPITAL:

 

 

 

 

 

Managing Owner interest (5,210.818 and 5,128.014 units outstanding)

 

5,894,056 

 

 

5,496,789 

Series 1 Unitholders (187,862.640 and 199,292.051 units outstanding)

 

212,481,243 

 

 

213,611,159 

Series 2 Unitholders (39.121 and 39.121 units outstanding)

 

53,567 

 

 

50,872 

Series 3 Unitholders (14,363.362 and 13,848.201 units outstanding)

 

19,904,522 

 

 

18,216,525 

Series 4 Unitholders (2,451.839 and 2,216.197 units outstanding)

 

3,812,014 

 

 

3,213,861 

Total trust capital

 

242,145,402 

 

 

240,589,206 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

$

249,475,621 

 

$

246,891,692 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT OUTSTANDING:

 

 

 

 

 

Series 1 Unitholders

$

1,131.05 

 

$

1,071.85 

Series 2 Unitholders

$

1,369.26 

 

$

1,300.38 

Series 3 Unitholders

$

1,385.78 

 

$

1,315.44 

Series 4 Unitholders

$

1,554.76 

 

$

1,450.17 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Macro Trust

Condensed Schedule of Investments (UNAUDITED)

March 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

FUTURES AND FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS

Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
as a % of
Trust Capital

 

 

Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)

FUTURES CONTRACTS

 

 

 

 

Long futures contracts:

 

 

 

 

Grains

0.00 

%

$

870 

Interest rates

 

 

 

 

2 Year U.S. Treasury Note (690 contracts, settlement date June 2015)

0.16 

 

 

377,156 

5 Year U.S. Treasury Note (332 contracts, settlement date June 2015)

0.18 

 

 

447,297 

10 Year U.S. Treasury Note (257 contracts, settlement date June 2015)

0.15 

 

 

354,781 

30 Year U.S. Treasury Bond (74 contracts, settlement date June 2015)

0.11 

 

 

265,938 

Other interest rates

0.64 

 

 

1,550,370 

Total interest rates

1.24 

 

 

2,995,542 

 

 

 

 

 

Metals

(0.04)

 

 

(91,438)

Stock indices

0.34 

 

 

833,443 

Total long futures contracts

1.54 

 

 

3,738,417 

 

 

 

 

 

Short futures contracts:

 

 

 

 

Energies

0.39 

 

 

942,298 

Grains

0.02 

 

 

44,302 

Interest rates

(0.03)

 

 

(82,553)

Livestock

(0.01)

 

 

(27,940)

Metals

0.26 

 

 

630,408 

Softs

0.30 

 

 

726,715 

Stock indices

0.05 

 

 

120,860 

Total short futures contracts

0.98 

 

 

2,354,090 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN FUTURES CONTRACTS-Net

2.52 

 

 

6,092,507 

 

 

 

 

 

FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS

 

 

 

 

Total long forward currency contracts

(0.06)

 

 

(147,365)

Total short forward currency contracts

(0.54)

 

 

(1,294,170)

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN FORWARD CURRENCY

 

 

 

 

CONTRACTS-Net

(0.60)

 

 

(1,441,535)

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

1.92 

%

$

4,650,972 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Continued)

 

2

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Macro Trust

Condensed Schedule of Investments (UNAUDITED)

March 31, 2015

U.S. TREASURY NOTES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Face Amount

 

Description

 

Fair Value
as a % of
Trust Capital

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

50,710,000 

 

U.S. Treasury notes, 0.250%,  05/15/2015

 

20.95 

%

$

50,721,885 

 

52,260,000 

 

U.S. Treasury notes, 0.250%,  07/15/2015

 

21.60 

 

 

52,288,580 

 

47,220,000 

 

U.S. Treasury notes, 0.250%,  09/15/2015

 

19.51 

 

 

47,249,512 

 

68,100,000 

 

U.S. Treasury notes, 0.375%,  04/30/2016

 

28.14 

 

 

68,146,553 

 

 

 

Total investments in U.S. Treasury notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(amortized cost $218,358,132)

 

90.20 

%

$

218,406,530 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

 

 

(Concluded)

 

3

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Macro Trust

Condensed Schedule of Investments

December 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

FUTURES AND FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS

Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
as a % of
Trust Capital

 

 

Net Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)

FUTURES CONTRACTS

 

 

 

 

Long futures contracts:

 

 

 

 

Grains

(0.11)

%

$

(252,629)

Interest rates:

 

 

 

 

5 Year U.S. Treasury Note (772 contracts, settlement date March 2015)

0.01 

 

 

23,242 

30 Year U.S. Treasury Bond (62 contracts, settlement date March 2015)

0.03 

 

 

81,500 

Other interest rates

0.48 

 

 

1,162,658 

Total interest rates

0.52 

 

 

1,267,400 

 

 

 

 

 

Livestock

(0.01)

 

 

(19,440)

Metals

(0.76)

 

 

(1,849,278)

Softs

0.00 

 

 

5,670 

Stock indices

0.37 

 

 

871,263 

Total long futures contracts

0.01 

 

 

22,986 

Short futures contracts:

 

 

 

 

Energies

0.30 

 

 

731,816 

Interest rates

(0.10)

 

 

(235,011)

Livestock

0.03 

 

 

65,050 

Metals

0.50 

 

 

1,207,429 

Softs

0.23 

 

 

548,958 

Stock indices

0.07 

 

 

165,973 

Total short futures contracts

1.03 

 

 

2,484,215 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN FUTURES CONTRACTS-Net

1.04 

 

 

2,507,201 

FORWARD CURRENCY CONTRACTS

 

 

 

 

Total long forward currency contracts

(0.71)

 

 

(1,717,870)

Total short forward currency contracts

0.46 

 

 

1,100,173 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN FORWARD CURRENCY

 

 

 

 

CONTRACTS-Net

(0.25)

 

 

(617,697)

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

0.79 

%

$

1,889,504 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Continued)

 

4

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Macro Trust

Condensed Schedule of Investments

December 31, 2014

U.S. TREASURY NOTES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Face Amount

 

Description

Fair Value
as a % of
Trust Capital

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

68,100,000 

 

U.S. Treasury notes, 0.375%,  03/15/2015

28.32 

%

$

68,149,213 

 

50,710,000 

 

U.S. Treasury notes, 0.250%,  05/15/2015

21.09 

 

 

50,747,636 

 

52,260,000 

 

U.S. Treasury notes, 0.250%,  07/15/2015

21.74 

 

 

52,296,745 

 

47,220,000 

 

U.S. Treasury notes, 0.250%,  09/15/2015

19.64 

 

 

47,241,212 

 

 

 

Total investments in U.S. Treasury notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(amortized cost $218,431,255)

90.79 

%

$

218,434,806 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

 

 

(Concluded)

 

 

 

 

5

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Macro Trust

Statements of Operations (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the three months ended

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

March 31, 2014

INVESTMENT INCOME:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

$

72,812 

 

$

79,602 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

Brokerage and custodial fees

 

3,473,424 

 

 

4,162,582 

Administrative expenses

 

307,064 

 

 

366,989 

Custody fees and other expenses

 

13,339 

 

 

18,610 

Management fees

 

98,177 

 

 

107,956 

Total expenses

 

3,892,004 

 

 

4,656,137 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INVESTMENT LOSS

 

(3,819,192)

 

 

(4,576,535)

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES):

 

 

 

 

 

Net realized gains (losses) on closed positions:

 

 

 

 

 

Futures and forward currency contracts

 

14,514,498 

 

 

10,152,262 

Foreign exchange translation

 

(261,047)

 

 

(83,333)

Net change in unrealized:

 

 

 

 

 

Futures and forward currency contracts

 

2,761,468 

 

 

(3,553,078)

Foreign exchange translation

 

196,455 

 

 

2,579 

Net gains from U.S. Treasury notes:

 

 

 

 

 

Realized

 

 -

 

 

5,156 

Net change in unrealized 

 

44,847 

 

 

376 

TOTAL NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS

 

17,256,221 

 

 

6,523,962 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME

$

13,437,029 

 

$

1,947,427 

LESS PROFIT SHARE TO MANAGING OWNER

 

252,569 

 

 

 -

NET INCOME AFTER PROFIT SHARE TO MANAGING OWNER

$

13,184,460 

 

$

1,947,427 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME PER UNIT OUTSTANDING

 

 

 

 

 

Series 1 Unitholders

$

59.20 

 

$

5.84 

Series 2 Unitholders

$

68.88 

 

$

18.75 

Series 3 Unitholders

$

70.34 

 

$

19.65 

Series 4 Unitholders

$

104.59 

 

$

27.26 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Macro Trust

Statements of Changes in Trust Capital (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2015:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Profit 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series 1 Unitholders

 

Series 2 Unitholders

 

Series 3 Unitholders

 

Series 4 Unitholders

 

Memo Account

 

Managing Owner

 

Total

 

 

Amount

Units

 

Amount

Units

 

Amount

Units

 

Amount

Units

 

Amount

Units

 

Amount

Units

 

Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trust capital at

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2015

$

213,611,159 
199,292.051 

$

50,872 
39.121 

$

18,216,525 
13,848.201 

$

3,213,861 
2,216.197 

$

 -

 -

$

5,496,789 
5,128.014 

$

240,589,206 

Subscriptions

 

317,117 
293.285 

 

 -

 -

 

1,048,741 
791.349 

 

343,771 
235.642 

 

793 
0.732 

 

 -

 -

 

1,710,422 

Redemptions

 

(12,964,519)
(11,824.158)

 

 -

 -

 

(374,167)
(276.188)

 

 -

 -

 

 -

 -

 

 -

 -

 

(13,338,686)

Addt'l units allocated *

 

 -

101.462 

 

 -

 -

 

 -

 -

 

 -

 -

 

 -

0.004 

 

 -

82.068 

 

 -

Net income before profit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

share to Managing Owner

 

11,517,486 

 -

 

3,364 

 -

 

1,265,323 

 -

 

254,382 

 -

 

39 

 -

 

396,435 

 -

 

13,437,029 

Managing Owner's profit share:

 

 -

 -

 

(669)

 -

 

(251,900)

 -

 

 -

 -

 

 -

 -

 

 -

 -

 

(252,569)

Trust capital at

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2015

$

212,481,243 
187,862.640 

$

53,567 
39.121 

$

19,904,522 
14,363.362 

$

3,812,014 
2,451.839 

$

832 
0.736 

$

5,893,224 
5,210.082 

$

242,145,402 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per unit outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

at March 31, 2015:

$

1,131.05 

 

$

1,369.26 

 

$

1,385.78 

 

$

1,554.76 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Additional units are issued to Series 1 Unitholders who are charged less than a 7% brokerage fee and the Managing Owner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Continued)

 

 

 

7

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Macro Trust

Statements of Changes in Trust Capital (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2014:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Profit 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series 1 Unitholders

 

Series 2 Unitholders

 

Series 3 Unitholders

 

Series 4 Unitholders

 

Memo Account

 

Managing Owner

 

Total

 

 

Amount

Units

 

Amount

Units

 

Amount

Units

 

Amount

Units

 

Amount

Units

 

Amount

Units

 

Amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trust capital at

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2014

$

257,057,401 
269,666.902 

$

156,016 
139.796 

$

21,885,706 
19,432.989 

$

2,305,510 
1,906.624 

$

 -

 -

$

6,833,096 
7,168.282 

$

288,237,729 

Subscriptions

 

223,000 
234.456 

 

 -

 -

 

209,000 
185.671 

 

404,118 
336.627 

 

 -

 -

 

 -

 -

 

836,118 

Redemptions

 

(30,561,314)
(32,221.064)

 

(42,114)
(37.063)

 

(2,035,504)
(1,797.661)

 

(54,717)
(44.284)

 

 -

 -

 

 -

 -

 

(32,693,649)

Addt'l units allocated *

 

 -

134.541 

 

 -

 -

 

 -

 -

 

 -

 -

 

 -

 -

 

 -

116.956 

 

 -

Net income

 

1,365,419 

 -

 

2,677 

 -

 

361,226 

 -

 

64,043 

 -

 

 -

 -

 

154,062 

 -

 

1,947,427 

Trust capital at

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

$

228,084,506 
237,814.835 

$

116,579 
102.733 

$

20,420,428 
17,820.999 

$

2,718,954 
2,198.967 

$

 -

 -

$

6,987,158 
7,285.238 

$

258,327,625 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per unit outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

at March 31, 2014:

$

959.08 

 

$

1,134.78 

 

$

1,145.86 

 

$

1,236.47 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Additional units are issued to Series 1 Unitholders who are charged less than a 7% brokerage fee and the Managing Owner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Concluded)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Macro Trust

Statements of Financial Highlights (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the three months ended March 31:

 

2015

2014

 

 

 

Series 1

 

Series 2

 

Series 3

 

Series 4

 

 

Series 1

 

Series 2

 

Series 3

 

Series 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income from operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment loss

 

 

$               (18.76)

 

$           (9.79)

 

$           (9.06)

 

$           (2.48)

 

 

$         (16.98)

 

$           (8.76)

 

$           (8.12)

 

$           (2.64)

 

Net realized and unrealized gains on trading of futures and forward currency contracts

 

 

77.76 

 

95.53 

 

96.67 

 

106.80 

 

 

22.80 

 

27.50 

 

27.75 

 

29.87 

 

Net gains from U.S. Treasury obligations

 

 

0.20 

 

0.25 

 

0.25 

 

0.27 

 

 

0.02 

 

0.01 

 

0.02 

 

0.03 

 

Profit share allocated to Managing Owner

 

 

0.00 

 

(17.11)

 

(17.52)

 

0.00 

 

 

0.00 

 

0.00 

 

0.00 

 

0.00 

 

Net income per unit

 

 

$                 59.20 

 

$           68.88 

 

$           70.34 

 

$         104.59 

 

 

$             5.84 

 

$           18.75 

 

$           19.65 

 

$           27.26 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per unit, beginning of period

 

 

1,071.85 

 

1,300.38 

 

1,315.44 

 

1,450.17 

 

 

953.24 

 

1,116.03 

 

1,126.21 

 

1,209.21 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value per unit, end of period

 

 

$            1,131.05 

 

$      1,369.26 

 

$      1,385.78 

 

$      1,554.76 

 

 

$         959.08 

 

$      1,134.78 

 

$      1,145.86 

 

$      1,236.47 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total return and ratios for the three months ended March 31:

2015

2014

 

 

 

Series 1

 

Series 2

 

Series 3

 

Series 4

 

 

Series 1

 

Series 2

 

Series 3

 

Series 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RATIOS TO AVERAGE CAPITAL:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment loss (a)

 

 

(6.83)

%

(2.93)

%

(2.68)

%

(0.66)

%

 

(7.16)

%

(3.12)

%

(2.87)

%

(0.87)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total expenses (a)

 

 

6.94 

%

3.05 

%

2.80 

%

0.78 

%

 

7.27 

%

3.24 

%

2.99 

%

0.98 

%

Profit share allocation (b)

 

 

0.00 

 

1.28 

 

1.30 

 

0.00 

 

 

0.00 

 

0.00 

 

0.00 

 

0.00 

 

TOTAL EXPENSES AND PROFIT SHARE ALLOCATION

 

 

6.94 

%

4.33 

%

4.10 

%

0.78 

%

 

7.27 

%

3.24 

%

2.99 

%

0.98 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total return before profit share allocation (b)

 

 

5.52 

%

6.58 

%

6.65 

%

7.21 

%

 

0.61 

%

1.68 

%

1.74 

%

2.25 

%

Less: Profit share allocation (b)

 

 

0.00 

 

1.28 

 

1.30 

 

0.00 

 

 

0.00 

 

0.00 

 

0.00 

 

0.00 

 

TOTAL RETURN AFTER PROFIT SHARE ALLOCATION

 

 

5.52 

%

5.30 

%

5.35 

%

7.21 

%

 

0.61 

%

1.68 

%

1.74 

%

2.25 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a) annualized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b) not annualized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) 

9


 

 

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The accompanying unaudited financial statements, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of Global Macro Trust’s (the “Trust”) financial condition at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (unaudited) and the results of its operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 (unaudited). These financial statements present the results of interim periods and do not include all disclosures normally provided in annual financial statements. It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes included in the Trust's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2014. The December 31, 2014 information has been derived from the audited financial statements as of December 31, 2014.

 

With the effectiveness of the Trust’s Registration Statement on August 12, 2009, the Trust began to offer Series 2, Series 3 and Series 4 Units. The only Units offered prior to such date were the Series 1 Units.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted (“U.S. GAAP”) in the United States of America (the “U.S.”), as detailed in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification”), requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts and disclosures reported in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

The Trust enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnification provisions. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. The Trust does not anticipate recognizing any loss related to these arrangements.

 

The Income Taxes topic of the Codification clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in tax positions. This requires that the Trust recognize in its financial statements the impact of any uncertain tax positions. Based on a review of the Trust’s open tax years, 2011 to 2014,  Millburn Ridgefield Corporation (the Managing Owner”) determined that no reserves for uncertain tax positions were required. 

 

There have been no material changes with respect to the Trust's critical accounting policies, off-balance sheet arrangements or disclosure of contractual obligations as reported in the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2014.

 

2. FAIR VALUE

 

The Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures topic of the Codification defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

 

Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;

 

Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly; and

 

Level 3: Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

 

In determining fair value, the Trust separates its investments into two categories: cash instruments and derivative contracts.

 

Cash Instruments – The Trust’s cash instruments are generally classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy, because they are typically valued using quoted market prices. The types of instruments valued based on quoted market prices in active markets include U.S. government obligations and an investment in a quoted short-term U.S. government money market fund. The Managing Owner does not adjust the quoted price for such instruments even in situations where the Trust holds a large position and a sale could reasonably impact the quoted price.

 

Derivative Contracts – Derivative contracts can be exchange-traded or over-the-counter (“OTC”). Exchange-traded futures contracts are valued based on quoted closing settlement prices and typically fall within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

Spot currency contracts are valued based on current market prices (“Spot Price”). Forward currency contracts are valued based on pricing models that consider the Spot Price, plus the financing cost or benefit (“Forward Point”). Forward Points from the quotation service providers are generally in periods of one month, two months, three months, six months, nine months and twelve months forward while the contractual forward delivery dates for the forward currency contracts traded by the Trust may be in between these periods. The Managing Owner’s policy to determine fair value for forward currency contracts involves first calculating the number of months from the date the forward currency contract is being valued to its maturity date (“Months to Maturity”), then identifying the forward currency contracts for the two forward months that are closest to the Months to Maturity (“Forward Month Contracts”). Linear interpolation is then performed between the dates of these two Forward Month Contracts to calculate the interpolated forward point. Model inputs can generally be verified and model selection does not involve significant management judgment. Such instruments are typically classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

Effective January 1, 2014, the Trust adopted ASU 2013-08, “Financial Services – Investment Companies (Topic 946): Amendments to the Scope, Measurement and Disclosure Requirements.” ASU 2013-08 changes the approach to the investment company assessment, requires non-controlling ownership interests in other investment companies to be measured at fair value, and requires additional disclosures about the

10


 

investment company’s status as an investment company. ASU 2013-08 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Trust’s financial statements. Based on management’s assessment, the Trust has been deemed to be an investment company since inception. It has all of the fundamental characteristics of an investment company. Although the Trust does not possess all of the typical characteristics of an investment company, its activities are consistent with those of an investment company.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, there were no transfers of assets or liabilities between Level 1 and Level 2. The following tables represent the Trust’s investments by hierarchical level as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 in valuing the Trust’s investments at fair value. At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Trust held no assets or liabilities classified in Level 3.

 

Financial Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value as of March 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury notes (1)

 

$

218,406,530 

 

$

 -

 

$

218,406,530 

Short-term money market fund*

 

 

13,242,075 

 

 

 -

 

 

13,242,075 

Exchange-traded futures contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energies

 

 

942,298 

 

 

 -

 

 

942,298 

Grains

 

 

45,172 

 

 

 -

 

 

45,172 

Interest rates

 

 

2,912,989 

 

 

 -

 

 

2,912,989 

Livestock

 

 

(27,940)

 

 

 -

 

 

(27,940)

Metals

 

 

538,970 

 

 

 -

 

 

538,970 

Softs

 

 

726,715 

 

 

 -

 

 

726,715 

Stock indices

 

 

954,303 

 

 

 -

 

 

954,303 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total exchange-traded futures contracts

 

 

6,092,507 

 

 

 -

 

 

6,092,507 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over-the-counter forward currency contracts

 

 

 -

 

 

(1,441,535)

 

 

(1,441,535)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total futures and forward currency contracts (2)

 

 

6,092,507 

 

 

(1,441,535)

 

 

4,650,972 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total financial assets at fair value

 

$

237,741,112 

 

$

(1,441,535)

 

$

236,299,577 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per line item in the Statements of Financial Condition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments in U.S. Treasury notes held in equity trading accounts (as collateral)

 

$

37,254,642 

Investments in U.S. Treasury notes

 

 

181,151,888 

Total investments in U.S. Treasury notes

 

$

218,406,530 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation on open futures and forward currency contracts

 

$

6,092,507 

Net unrealized depreciation on open futures and forward currency contracts

 

 

(1,441,535)

Total unrealized appreciation on open futures and forward currency contracts

 

$

4,650,972 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*The short-term money market fund is included in Cash and Cash Equivalents on the Statements of Financial Condition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11


 

 Financial Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value as of December 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury notes (1)

 

$

218,434,806 

 

$

 -

 

$

218,434,806 

Short-term money market fund*

 

 

16,785,518 

 

 

 -

 

 

16,785,518 

Exchange-traded futures contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energies

 

 

731,816 

 

 

 -

 

 

731,816 

Grains

 

 

(252,629)

 

 

 -

 

 

(252,629)

Interest rates

 

 

1,032,389 

 

 

 -

 

 

1,032,389 

Livestock

 

 

45,610 

 

 

 -

 

 

45,610 

Metals

 

 

(641,849)

 

 

 -

 

 

(641,849)

Softs

 

 

554,628 

 

 

 -

 

 

554,628 

Stock indices

 

 

1,037,236 

 

 

 -

 

 

1,037,236 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total exchange-traded futures contracts

 

 

2,507,201 

 

 

 -

 

 

2,507,201 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over-the-counter forward currency contracts

 

 

 -

 

 

(617,697)

 

 

(617,697)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total futures and forward currency contracts (2)

 

 

2,507,201 

 

 

(617,697)

 

 

1,889,504 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total financial assets at fair value

 

$

237,727,525 

 

$

(617,697)

 

$

237,109,828 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per line item in the Statements of Financial Condition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments in U.S. Treasury notes held in equity trading accounts (as collateral)

 

$

27,560,017 

Investments in U.S. Treasury notes

 

 

190,874,789 

Total investments in U.S. Treasury notes

 

$

218,434,806 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation on open futures and forward currency contracts

 

$

2,573,582 

Net unrealized depreciation on open futures and forward currency contracts

 

 

(684,078)

Total unrealized appreciation on open futures and forward currency contracts

 

$

1,889,504 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*The short-term money market fund is included in Cash and Cash Equivalents on the Statements of Financial Condition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

 

The Derivatives and Hedging topic of the Codification requires qualitative disclosure about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements.

 

The Trust’s market risk is influenced by a wide variety of factors, including the level and volatility of interest rates, exchange rates, equity price levels, the market value of financial instruments and contracts, the diversification effects among the Trust’s open positions, and the liquidity of the markets in which it trades.

 

The Trust engages in the speculative trading of futures and forward contracts on currencies, energies, grains, interest rates, livestock, metals, softs and stock indices. The following were the primary trading risk exposures of the Trust at March 31, 2015, by market sector:

 

Agricultural (grains, livestock and softs) – The Trust’s primary exposure is to agricultural price movements which are often directly affected by severe or unexpected weather conditions, as well as supply and demand factors.

 

Currencies – Exchange rate risk is a principal market exposure of the Trust. The Trust’s currency exposure is to exchange rate fluctuations, primarily fluctuations which disrupt the historical pricing relationships between different currencies and currency pairs. The fluctuations are influenced by interest rate changes, as well as political and general economic conditions. The Trust trades in a large number of currencies, including cross-rates—e.g., positions between two currencies other than the U.S. dollar.

 

12


 

Energies – The Trust’s primary energy market exposure is to gas and oil price movements often resulting from political developments in the oil producing countries and economic conditions worldwide. Energy prices are volatile and substantial profits and losses have been and are expected to continue to be experienced in this market.

 

Interest Rates – Interest rate movements directly affect the price of the sovereign bond futures positions held by the Trust and indirectly the value of its stock index and currency positions. Interest rate movements in one country, as well as relative interest rate movements between countries, may materially impact the Trust’s profitability. The Trust’s primary interest rate exposure is to interest rate fluctuations in countries or regions, including Australia, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the U.S. and the Eurozone. However, the Trust also may take positions in futures contracts on the government debt of other nations. The Managing Owner anticipates that interest rates in these industrialized countries or areas, both long-term and short-term, will remain the primary interest rate market exposure of the Trust for the foreseeable future.

 

Metals – The Trust’s metals market exposure is to fluctuations in the price of aluminum, copper, gold, lead, nickel, platinum, silver, tin and zinc.

 

Stock Indices – The Trust’s equity exposure, through stock index futures, is to equity price risk in the major industrialized countries, as well as other countries.

 

The Derivatives and Hedging topic of the Codification requires entities to recognize in the Statements of Financial Condition all derivative contracts as assets or liabilities. Fair values of futures and forward currency contracts in an asset position by counterparty are recorded in the Statements of Financial Condition as “Net unrealized appreciation on open futures and forward currency contracts.” Fair values of futures and forward currency contracts in a liability position by counterparty are recorded in the Statements of Financial Condition as “Net unrealized depreciation on open futures and forward currency contracts.” The Trust’s policy regarding fair value measurement is discussed in the Fair Value and Disclosures note, contained herein.

 

Since the derivatives held or sold by the Trust are for speculative trading purposes, the derivative instruments are not designated as hedging instruments under the provisions of the Derivatives and Hedging guidance. Accordingly, all realized gains and losses, as well as any change in net unrealized gains or losses on open positions from the preceding period, are recognized as part of the Trust’s trading gains and losses in the Statements of Operations.

 

See “Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” for additional derivative-related information.

 

The following tables present the fair value of open futures and forward currency contracts, held long or sold short, at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. Fair value is presented on a gross basis even though the contracts are subject to master netting agreements and qualify for net presentation in the Statements of Financial Condition.

 

Fair Value of Futures and Forward Currency Contracts at March 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Unrealized

 

 

Fair Value - Long Positions

 

 

Fair Value - Short Positions

 

 

Gain (Loss) on

Sector

 

Gains

 

 

Losses

 

 

Gains

 

 

Losses

 

 

Open Positions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures contracts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energies

$

 -

 

$

 -

 

$

1,006,333 

 

$

(64,035)

 

$

942,298 

Grains

 

1,320 

 

 

(450)

 

 

133,293 

 

 

(88,991)

 

 

45,172 

Interest rates

 

3,010,262 

 

 

(14,720)

 

 

33,808 

 

 

(116,361)

 

 

2,912,989 

Livestock

 

 -

 

 

 -

 

 

180 

 

 

(28,120)

 

 

(27,940)

Metals

 

317,981 

 

 

(409,419)

 

 

1,283,994 

 

 

(653,586)

 

 

538,970 

Softs

 

 -

 

 

 -

 

 

729,513 

 

 

(2,798)

 

 

726,715 

Stock indices

 

1,540,905 

 

 

(707,462)

 

 

124,260 

 

 

(3,400)

 

 

954,303 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total futures contracts

 

4,870,468 

 

 

(1,132,051)

 

 

3,311,381 

 

 

(957,291)

 

 

6,092,507 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward currency contracts

 

1,289,031 

 

 

(1,436,396)

 

 

1,300,391 

 

 

(2,594,561)

 

 

(1,441,535)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total futures and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

forward currency contracts

$

6,159,499 

 

$

(2,568,447)

 

$

4,611,772 

 

$

(3,551,852)

 

$

4,650,972 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13


 

 

 

Fair Value of Futures and Forward Currency Contracts at December 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Unrealized

 

 

Fair Value - Long Positions

 

 

Fair Value - Short Positions

 

 

Gain (Loss) on

Sector

 

Gains

 

 

Losses

 

 

Gains

 

 

Losses

 

 

Open Positions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures contracts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energies

$

 -

 

$

 -

 

$

762,163 

 

$

(30,347)

 

$

731,816 

Grains

 

400 

 

 

(253,029)

 

 

 -

 

 

 -

 

 

(252,629)

Interest rates

 

2,130,457 

 

 

(863,057)

 

 

 -

 

 

(235,011)

 

 

1,032,389 

Livestock

 

3,090 

 

 

(22,530)

 

 

65,050 

 

 

 -

 

 

45,610 

Metals

 

17,174 

 

 

(1,866,452)

 

 

1,245,270 

 

 

(37,841)

 

 

(641,849)

Softs

 

6,540 

 

 

(870)

 

 

564,493 

 

 

(15,535)

 

 

554,628 

Stock indices

 

1,359,895 

 

 

(488,632)

 

 

225,100 

 

 

(59,127)

 

 

1,037,236 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total futures contracts

 

3,517,556 

 

 

(3,494,570)

 

 

2,862,076 

 

 

(377,861)

 

 

2,507,201 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward currency contracts

 

664,940 

 

 

(2,382,810)

 

 

2,583,894 

 

 

(1,483,721)

 

 

(617,697)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total futures and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

forward currency contracts

$

4,182,496 

 

$

(5,877,380)

 

$

5,445,970 

 

$

(1,861,582)

 

$

1,889,504 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The effect of trading futures and forward currency contracts is represented on the Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 as “Net realized gains (losses) on closed positions: Futures and forward currency contracts” and “Net change in unrealized: Futures and forward currency contracts.” These trading gains and losses are detailed below:

 

Trading gains (losses) of futures and forward currency contracts for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended:

 

 

Three months ended:

 

Sector

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures contracts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Energies

$

(116,239)

 

$

755,041 

 

 Grains

 

(804,365)

 

 

1,947,680 

 

 Interest rates

 

8,024,063 

 

 

7,341,327 

 

 Livestock

 

75,450 

 

 

521,170 

 

 Metals

 

81,792 

 

 

(3,518,424)

 

 Softs

 

492,562 

 

 

376,098 

 

 Stock indices

 

6,711,906 

 

 

(997,969)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total futures contracts

 

14,465,169 

 

 

6,424,923 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward currency contracts

 

2,810,797 

 

 

174,261 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total futures and forward currency contracts

$

17,275,966 

 

$

6,599,184 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14


 

The following table presents average notional value by sector in U.S. dollars of open futures and forward currency contracts for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014. The Trust’s average net asset value for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was approximately $244,000,000 and $277,000,000, respectively.

 

Average notional value by sector of futures and forward currency contracts for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

Sector

 

Long Positions

 

 

Short Positions

 

 

Long Positions

 

 

Short Positions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures contracts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energies

$

 -

 

$

24,844,234 

 

$

87,168,027 

 

$

28,643,926 

Grains

 

3,196,168 

 

 

6,670,002 

 

 

36,183,417 

 

 

22,977,080 

Interest rates

 

371,820,876 

 

 

38,591,532 

 

 

652,251,407 

 

 

61,443,181 

Livestock

 

752,330 

 

 

1,531,820 

 

 

8,678,425 

 

 

3,973,175 

Metals

 

3,201,924 

 

 

21,984,804 

 

 

55,303,899 

 

 

18,901,594 

Softs

 

392,850 

 

 

6,455,819 

 

 

8,630,086 

 

 

8,124,037 

Stock indices

 

180,023,076 

 

 

12,280,741 

 

 

289,314,947 

 

 

2,611,827 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total futures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

contracts

 

559,387,224 

 

 

112,358,952 

 

 

1,137,530,208 

 

 

146,674,820 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward currency

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

contracts

 

57,581,179 

 

 

101,896,115 

 

 

324,896,278 

 

 

18,781,243 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total average

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

notional

$

616,968,403 

 

$

214,255,067 

 

$

1,462,426,486 

 

$

165,456,063 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notional values in the interest rate sector were calculated by converting the notional value in local currency of open interest rate futures positions with maturities less than 10 years to 10-year equivalent fixed income instruments and translated to U.S. dollars at March 31, 2015 and 2014. The 10-year note is often used as a benchmark for many types of fixed-income instruments and the Managing Owner believes it is a more meaningful representation of notional values of the Trust’s open interest rate positions.

 

The customer agreements between the Trust, the futures clearing brokers including Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG), and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC., as well as the FX prime brokers, including Deutsche Bank AG and Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC, gives the Trust the legal right to net unrealized gains and losses on open futures and foreign currency contracts. The Trust netted, for financial reporting purposes, the unrealized gains and losses on open futures and forward currency contracts on the Statements of Financial Condition as the criteria under ASC 210-20, “Balance Sheet,” were met. The Trust ceased clearing trades through Barclays Capital Inc. and Barclays Bank PLC during June 2014 and October 2014, respectively.

 

On January 1, 2013, the Trust adopted Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2011-11, “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities” and ASU 2013-01, “Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.” ASU 2011-11 and ASU 2013-01 did not have a significant impact on the Trust’s financial statements.

 

Offsetting of derivative assets and liabilities at March 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross amounts of
recognized assets

 

 

Gross amounts offset in
the Statement of Financial
Condition

 

 

Net amounts of assets
presented in the Statement
of Financial Condition

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counterparty C

 

$

3,374,698 

 

$

(460,456)

 

$

2,914,242 

Counterparty D

 

 

4,807,151 

 

 

(1,628,886)

 

 

3,178,265 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

8,181,849 

 

$

(2,089,342)

 

$

6,092,507 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       (Continued)

15


 

 

 

 

Gross amounts of
recognized liabilities

 

 

Gross amounts offset in
the Statement of Financial
Condition

 

 

Net amounts of liabilities
presented in the Statement
of Financial Condition

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward currency contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counterparty G

 

$

2,700,303 

 

$

(2,037,821)

 

$

662,482 

Counterparty H

 

 

1,330,654 

 

 

(551,601)

 

 

779,053 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

$

4,030,957 

 

$

(2,589,422)

 

$

1,441,535 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       (Concluded)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Condition

 

 

 

Counterparty

 

 

Net amounts of Assets
presented in the Statement
of Financial Condition

 

 

Financial Instruments

 

 

Collateral Received(1)(2)

 

 

Net Amount(3)(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counterparty C

 

$

2,914,242 

 

$

 -

 

$

(2,914,242)

 

$

 -

Counterparty D

 

 

3,178,265 

 

 

 -

 

 

(3,178,265)

 

 

 -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

6,092,507 

 

$

 -

 

$

(6,092,507)

 

$

 -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Condition

 

 

 

Counterparty

 

 

Net amounts of Liabilities
presented in the Statement
of Financial Condition

 

 

Financial Instruments

 

 

Collateral Pledged(1)(2)

 

 

Net Amount(3)(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counterparty G

 

$

662,482 

 

$

 -

 

$

(662,482)

 

$

 -

Counterparty H

 

 

779,053 

 

 

 -

 

 

(779,053)

 

 

 -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

1,441,535 

 

$

 -

 

$

(1,441,535)

 

$

 -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Collateral received includes trades made on exchanges. These trades are subject to central counterparty clearing where settlement is guaranteed by the exchange. Collateral pledged includes both cash and U.S. Treasury notes held at each respective broker.

(2) Collateral disclosed is limited to an amount not to exceed 100% of the net amount of assets presented in

the Statement of Financial Condition, for each respective counterparty.

(3) Net amount represents the amount that is subject to loss in the event of a counterparty failure as of

March 31, 2015.

(4) Net amount represents the amounts owed by the Trust to each counterparty as of March 31,

2015.

 

16


 

Offsetting of derivative assets and liabilities at December 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross amounts of
recognized assets

 

 

Gross amounts offset in
the Statement of Financial
Condition

 

 

Net amounts of assets
presented in the Statement
of Financial Condition

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counterparty C

 

$

2,697,244 

 

$

(898,740)

 

$

1,798,504 

Counterparty D

 

 

3,682,388 

 

 

(2,973,691)

 

 

708,697 

Total futures contracts

 

 

6,379,632 

 

 

(3,872,431)

 

 

2,507,201 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward currency contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counterparty G

 

 

1,085,849 

 

 

(1,019,468)

 

 

66,381 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

7,465,481 

 

$

(4,891,899)

 

$

2,573,582 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross amounts of
recognized liabilities

 

 

Gross amounts offset in
the Statement of Financial
Condition

 

 

Net amounts of liabilities
presented in the Statement
of Financial Condition

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward currency contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counterparty H

 

$

2,847,063 

 

$

(2,162,985)

 

$

684,078 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

$

2,847,063 

 

$

(2,162,985)

 

$

684,078 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Condition

 

 

 

Counterparty

 

 

Net amounts of Assets
presented in the Statement
of Financial Condition

 

 

Financial Instruments

 

 

Collateral Received(1)(2)

 

 

Net Amount(3)(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counterparty C

 

$

1,798,504 

 

$

 -

 

$

(1,798,504)

 

$

 -

Counterparty D

 

 

708,697 

 

 

 -

 

 

(708,697)

 

 

 -

Counterparty G

 

 

66,381 

 

 

 -

 

 

(66,381)

 

 

 -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

2,573,582 

 

$

 -

 

$

(2,573,582)

 

$

 -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   (Continued)

 

17

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Condition

 

 

 

Counterparty

 

 

Net amounts of Liabilities
presented in the Statement
of Financial Condition

 

 

Financial Instruments

 

 

Collateral Pledged(1)(2)

 

 

Net Amount(3)(4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counterparty H

 

$

684,078 

 

$

 -

 

$

(684,078)

 

$

 -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

684,078 

 

$

 -

 

$

(684,078)

 

$

 -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   (Concluded)

(1) Collateral received includes trades made on exchanges. These trades are subject to central counterparty clearing where settlement is guaranteed by the exchange. Collateral pledged includes both cash and U.S. Treasury notes held at each respective broker.

(2) Collateral disclosed is limited to an amount not to exceed 100% of the net amount of assets presented in

the Statement of Financial Condition, for each respective counterparty.

(3) Net amount represents the amount that is subject to loss in the event of a counterparty failure as of

December 31, 2014.

(4) Net amount represents the amounts owed by the Trust to each counterparty as of December 31,

2014.

 

18

 


 

 

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

 

Credit risk is the possibility that a loss may occur due to the failure of a counterparty to perform according to the terms of a contract. Credit risk is normally reduced to the extent that an exchange or clearing organization acts as a counterparty to futures transactions since typically the collective credit of the members of the exchange is pledged to support the financial integrity of the exchange.

 

The Managing Owner seeks to minimize credit risk primarily by depositing and maintaining the Trust’s assets at financial institutions and trading counterparties which the Managing Owner believes to be creditworthy. In addition, for OTC forward currency contracts, the Trust enters into master netting agreements with its counterparties. Collateral posted at the various counterparties for trading of futures and forward currency contracts includes cash and U.S. Treasury notes.

 

A significant portion of the Trust’s forward currency trading activities are cleared by Deutsche Bank AG (“DB”) and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“MS”). The Trust’s concentration of credit risk associated with BB, DB or MS nonperformance includes unrealized gains inherent in such contracts, which are recognized in the Statements of Financial Condition, plus the value of margin or collateral held by DB and MS. The amount of such credit risk was $17,283,089 and  $12,990,214 at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

 

4. PROFIT SHARE

 

The following table indicates the total profit share earned and accrued during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014. Profit share earned (from Unitholders' redemptions) is credited to the New Profit Memo Account as defined in the Trust’s Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended:

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

2015

 

 

 

2014

Profit share earned

 

$

793 

 

 

 

$

 -

Profit share accrued

 

 

251,776 
(1)

 

 

 

 -

Total profit share

 

$

252,569 

 

 

 

$

 -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Included in “Other liabilities” in the Statements of Financial Condition.

 

 

 

5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The Trust pays all routine expenses, such as legal, accounting, printing, postage and similar administrative expenses (including the Trustee's fees, the charges of an outside accounting services agency and the expenses of updating the Trust's Prospectus), as well as extraordinary costs. At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, The Managing Owner is owed $61,408 and $0, respectively, from the Trust in connection with such expenses it has paid on the Trust’s behalf (and is included in “Due to Managing Owner” in the Statements of Financial Condition).

 

Series 1 Unitholders who redeem Units at or prior to the end of the first eleven months after such Units are sold shall be assessed redemption charges calculated based on their redeemed Units' net asset value as of the date of redemption. All redemption charges will be paid to the Managing Owner. There was no redemption charge payable at March 31, 2015 or December 31, 2014.

 

6. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

Per unit operating performance for Series 1, Series 2, Series 3 and Series 4 Units is calculated based on Unitholders’ Trust capital for each Series taken as a whole utilizing the beginning and ending net asset value per unit and weighted average number of Units during the period. Weighted average number of Units for each Series is detailed below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

Date of first issuance

 

2015

 

2014 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series 1

195,757.461

 

259,165.587 

 

July 23, 2001

Series 2

39.121

 

126.999 

 

April 1, 2010

Series 3

14,376.229

 

18,947.809 

 

September 1, 2009

Series 4

2,418.044

 

2,192.036 

 

November 1, 2010

 

 

 

 

19

 


 

7. BROKERAGE AND CUSTODIAL FEES

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, brokerage and custodial fees were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ending March 31,

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

 

Brokerage fees

$             3,473,391

 

$             4,162,493

Custodial fees

33 

 

89 

 

 

 

 

Total

$             3,473,424

 

$             4,162,582

 

Per the Trust agreement, selling agents are prohibited from receiving amounts in excess of 9.5% of the gross offering proceeds of Series 1 units sold subsequent to August 12, 2009. During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Managing Owner rebated to the Trust for the benefit of all holders of Series 1 Units, all amounts that would have otherwise been due to selling agents but for the 9.5% cap. Further, in certain cases, there are Series 1 units that remain outstanding, where there is no longer a selling agent associated with such units. Beginning in August 2014, the Managing Owner rebated such amounts to the Trust for the benefit of all holders of Series 1 Units. The total amounts rebated to the Trust for both of these items for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were $222,562 and $58,911, respectively. These rebates were included in “Brokerage and custodial fees” in the Statements of Operations.

 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Reference is made to Item 1, "Financial Statements." The information contained therein is essential to, and should be read in connection with, the following analysis.

 

OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW

 

Due to the nature of the Trust's business, its results of operations depend on the Managing Owner’s ability to recognize and capitalize on trends and other profit opportunities in different sectors of the global capital and commodity markets. The Managing Owner's investment and trading methods are confidential so that substantially the only information that can be furnished regarding the Trust's results of operations is contained in the performance record of its trading. Unlike operating businesses, general economic or seasonal conditions do not directly affect the profit potential of the Trust and its past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. The Managing Owner believes, however, that there are certain market conditions, for example, markets with strong price trends, in which the Trust has a better likelihood of being profitable than in others.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Units may be offered for sale as of the beginning, and may be redeemed as of the end, of each month.

 

The amount of capital raised for the Trust should not have a significant impact on its operations, as the Trust has no significant capital expenditure or working capital requirements other than for monies to pay trading losses, brokerage commissions and charges. Within broad ranges of capitalization, the Managing Owner’s trading positions should increase or decrease in approximate proportion to the size of the Trust.

 

The Trust raises additional capital only through the sale of Units and capital is increased through trading profits (if any). The Trust does not engage in borrowing.

 

The Trust trades futures, forward and spot contracts, and may trade swap and options contracts, on interest rates, agricultural commodities, currencies, metals, energy and stock indices and forward contracts on currencies. Risk arises from changes in the value of these contracts (market risk) and the potential inability of counterparties or brokers to perform under the terms of their contracts (credit risk). Market risk is generally to be measured by the face amount of the futures positions acquired and the volatility of the markets traded. The credit risk from counterparty non-performance associated with these instruments is the net unrealized gain, if any, on these positions plus the value of the margin or collateral held by the counterparty. The risks associated with exchange-traded contracts are generally perceived to be less than those associated with OTC transactions because exchanges typically (but not universally) provide clearinghouse arrangements in which the collective credit (in some cases limited in amount, in some cases not) of the members of the exchange is pledged to support the financial integrity of the exchange. In most OTC transactions, on the other hand, traders must rely (typically but not universally) solely on the credit of their respective individual counterparties. Margins which may be subject to loss in the event of a default are generally required in exchange trading and counterparties may require margin or collateral in the OTC markets.

 

The Managing Owner has procedures in place to control market risk, although there can be no assurance that they will, in fact, succeed in doing so. These procedures primarily focus on: (1) real time monitoring of open positions; (2) diversifying positions among various markets; (3) limiting the assets committed as margin or collateral, generally within a range of 5% to 35% of an account’s net assets, though the amount may at

20

 


 

any time be higher; and (4) prohibiting pyramiding – that is, using unrealized profits in a particular market as margin for additional positions in the same market. The Managing Owner attempts to control credit risk by causing the Trust to deal exclusively with large, well-capitalized financial institutions as brokers and counterparties.

 

The financial instruments traded by the Trust contain varying degrees of off-balance sheet risk whereby changes in the market values of the futures, forward and spot contracts or the Trust’s satisfaction of the obligations may exceed the amount recognized in the Statements of Financial Condition of the Trust.

 

Due to the nature of the Trust’s business, substantially all its assets are represented by cash, cash equivalents and U.S. government obligations while the Trust maintains its market exposure through open futures, forward and spot contract positions.

 

The Trust’s futures contracts are settled by offset and are cleared by the exchange clearinghouse function. Open futures positions are marked to market each trading day and the Trust’s trading accounts are debited or credited accordingly. Options on futures contracts are settled either by offset or by exercise. If an option on a future is exercised, the Trust is assigned a position in the underlying future which is then settled by offset. The Trust’s spot and forward currency transactions conducted in the interbank market are settled by netting offsetting positions or payment obligations and by cash payments.

 

The value of the Trust’s cash and financial instruments is not materially affected by inflation. Changes in interest rates, which are often associated with inflation, could cause the value of certain of the Trust’s debt securities to decline but only to a limited extent. More importantly, changes in interest rates could cause periods of strong up or down market price trends during which the Trust’s profit potential generally increases. However, inflation can also give rise to markets which have numerous short price trends followed by rapid reversals, markets in which the Trust is likely to suffer losses.

 

The Trust’s assets are generally held as cash or cash equivalents, including short-term U.S. government obligations, which are used to margin the Trust’s futures, forward and spot currency positions and withdrawn, as necessary, to pay redemptions and expenses. Other than potential market-imposed limitations on liquidity, due, for example, to limited open interest in certain futures markets or to daily price fluctuation limits, which are inherent in the Trust’s futures, forward and spot trading, the Trust’s assets are highly liquid and are expected to remain so.

 

During its operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Trust experienced no meaningful periods of illiquidity in any of the numerous markets traded by the Managing Owner.

 

21

 


 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

 

The Trust records its transactions in futures, forward and spot contracts, including related income and expenses, on a trade date basis. Open futures contracts traded on an exchange are valued at fair value, which is based on the closing settlement price on the exchange where the futures contract is traded by the Trust on the day with respect to which net assets are being determined. Open spot currency contracts are valued based on the current Spot Price. Open forward currency contracts are recorded at fair value, based on pricing models that consider the Spot Price and Forward Point. Spot Prices and Forward Points for open forward currency contracts are generally based on the average midpoint of bid/ask quotations at the last second ending at 3:00 P.M. New York time provided by widely used quotation service providers on the day with respect to which net assets are being determined. Forward Points from the quotation service providers are generally in periods of one month, two months, three months, six months, nine months and twelve months forward while the contractual forward delivery dates for the forward currency contracts traded by the Trust may be in between these periods. The Managing Owner’s policy to determine fair value for forward currency contracts involves first calculating the Months to Maturity then identifying Forward Month Contracts. Linear interpolation is then performed between the dates of these two Forward Month Contracts to calculate the interpolated Forward Point. The Managing Owner will also compare the calculated price to the forward currency prices provided by dealers to determine whether the calculated price is fair and reasonable.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Due to the nature of the Trust’s trading, the results of operations for the interim periods presented should not be considered indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year.

 

Series 1 Units, which were initially issued simply as “Units” beginning in July 2001, were the only Series of Units available prior to 2009. Series 2 Units were first issued on April 1, 2010, Series 3 Units were first issued on September 1, 2009 and Series 4 Units were first issued on November 1, 2010. The Trust’s past performance is not necessarily indicative of how it will perform in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Period ended March 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

Month Ending:

 

 

Total Trust
Capital

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

$

242,145,402 

December 31, 2014

 

 

240,589,206 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

Change in Trust Capital

 

$

1,556,196 

Percent Change

 

 

0.65% 

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015

 

The increase in the Trust’s net assets of $1,556,196 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was attributable to net income after profit share of $13,184,460 and subscriptions of $1,710,422 which was partially offset by redemptions of $13,338,686.

 

Brokerage and custodial fees are calculated on the net asset value on the last day of each month and are affected by trading performance, subscriptions and redemptions.  Brokerage and custodial fees for the three months ended March 31, 2015 decreased $689,158 relative to the corresponding period in 2014 due to a decrease in the Trust’s net assets.

 

Administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2015 decreased $59,925 relative to the corresponding period in 2014. The decrease was due mainly to a decrease in the Trust's net assets during the three months ended March 31, 2015 relative to the corresponding period in 2014.

 

Interest income is derived from cash and U.S. Treasury instruments held at the Trust's brokers and custodian.  Interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 decreased $6,790 relative to the corresponding period in 2014. This decrease was due predominantly to a decrease in average net assets during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

 

The Trust experienced net realized and unrealized gains of $17,256,221 from its trading operations (including foreign exchange translations and Treasury obligations). Brokerage and custodial fees of $3,473,424, administrative expenses of $307,064, custody fees and other expenses of $13,339 and management fees of $98,177 were incurred. The Trust’s gains achieved from trading operations, in addition to interest income of $72,812, were partially offset the Trust's expenses and profit share of $252,569, resulting in net income after profit share to the Managing Owner of $13,184,460. An analysis of the trading gain (loss) by sector is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

 


 

Sector

 

 

% Gain (Loss)

 

Currencies

 

 

1.21 

%

Energies

 

 

0.00 

%

Grains

 

 

(0.31)

%

Interest rates

 

 

3.41 

%

Livestock

 

 

0.04 

%

Metals

 

 

0.05 

%

Softs

 

 

0.23 

%

Stock indices

 

 

2.78 

%

 

 

 

 

 

Trading gain

 

 

7.41 

%

 

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION – 2015

 

Three months ended March 31, 2015

 

Solid first quarter performance was led by gains from trading of financial markets—interest rate and equity futures, and currency forwards.  Commodity futures trading was nearly flat as losses from trading grain futures were countered by gains from trading soft, metal and livestock futures.

 

The European Central Bank’s historic Quantitative easing announcement, several easing moves by the People’s Bank of China and more than 20 other official interest rate reductions led to sharp gains on long positions in U.S. interest rate futures across the yield curve.  Long positions in German, Italian, French, Canadian and Australian notes and bonds also registered profits.  A long position in short-term sterling rates was profitable as events suggested that any tightening of U.K. monetary policy would be delayed.

 

The more accommodative monetary policy environment and some improvement in growth indicators for Europe led to gains on long positions in Continental European, Chinese, Hong Kong, Japanese and Australian equity futures. On the other hand, a short Korean kospi futures trade was unprofitable. Meanwhile, U.S. equity futures, after reaching record levels, stagnated in the wake of the stronger dollar, disappointing earnings reports, and a first quarter growth slowdown.

 

Currency markets were volatile during the quarter, although a solid U.S. economic outlook, generally higher relative interest rates, and some safe haven cachet underpinned the U.S. dollar. Still, a tentative Russia/ Ukraine ceasefire and temporary bouts of sanity around the Greek crisis periodically took some steam out of the dollar. Overall, long dollar positions versus the euro, Czech koruna, Swedish krona, Turkish lira, Brazilian real and Canadian dollar were profitable. On the other hand, a long dollar/short Swiss franc trade sustained a large loss when, on January 15th, the Swiss National Bank unexpectedly ended the franc’s peg to the euro and the franc soared 15%. Long dollar trades against the South African, Norwegian and New Zealand currencies produced small losses. 

 

Grain prices recovered a bit after the USDA projected a reduction in planting acreage for the current crop year. Consequently, short wheat positions, and to a lesser extent trading of corn, soybeans, soybean meal and bean oil produced minor losses.  Coffee and sugar prices continued to fall and short positions in both were profitable.  A short hog trade was marginally positive.

 

Energy trading was flat as the gains from short WTI crude and natural gas positions offset the losses from short Brent crude, heating oil and London gas oil trades.  Metal trading was also nearly flat with gains from short aluminum, silver and nickel positions and trading of gold marginally outpacing the losses from short copper, zinc and platinum positions and trading of palladium.

 

23

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Period ended March 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

Month Ending:

 

 

Total Trust
Capital

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

$

258,327,625 

December 31, 2013

 

 

288,237,729 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

Change in Trust Capital

 

$

(29,910,104)

Percent Change

 

 

(10.38)%

 

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2014

 

The decrease in the Trust’s net assets of $29,910,104 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was attributable to redemptions of $32,693,649 which was partially offset by net income of $1,947,427 and subscriptions of $836,118.

 

Brokerage and custodial fees are calculated on the net asset value on the last day of each month and are affected by trading performance, subscriptions and redemptions.  Brokerage and custodial fees for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased $3,037,659 relative to the corresponding period in 2013 due to a decrease in the Trust’s net assets.

 

Administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased $70,268 relative to the corresponding period in 2013. The decrease was due mainly to a decrease in the Trust's net assets during the three months ended March 31, 2014 relative to the corresponding period in 2013.

 

Interest income is derived from cash and U.S. Treasury instruments held at the Trust's brokers and custodian.  Interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased $128,709 relative to the corresponding period in 2013. This decrease was due predominantly to a decrease in average net assets during the three months ended March 31, 2014.

 

The Trust experienced net realized and unrealized gains of $6,523,962 from its trading operations (including foreign exchange translations and Treasury obligations). Brokerage and custodial fees of $4,162,582, administrative expenses of $366,989, custody fees and other expenses of $18,610 and management fees of $107,956 were incurred. Interest income of $79,602 partially offset the Trust's expenses resulting in net income of $1,947,427. An analysis of the trading gain (loss) by sector is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sector

 

 

% Gain (Loss)

 

Currencies

 

 

0.12 

%

Energies

 

 

0.29 

%

Grains

 

 

0.70 

%

Interest rates

 

 

2.57 

%

Livestock

 

 

0.18 

%

Metals

 

 

(1.24)

%

Softs

 

 

0.12 

%

Stock indices

 

 

(0.27)

%

 

 

 

 

 

Trading gain

 

 

2.47 

%

 

24

 


 

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION – 2014

 

Three months ended March 31, 2014

 

After a quarter of significant market volatility, the Trust produced a profit, predominantly due to gains from long interest rate futures positions. There were also fractional profits from trading agricultural commodities, energy and currencies, but these were largely offset by the losses from trading metals.

 

Shifting perceptions about U.S. and Chinese growth prospects, the future course of Federal Reserve monetary policy, political and economic turmoil in several emerging economies—including Turkey, India, Indonesia, and Thailand, and the impact of the Russia/Ukraine-Crimea situation kept markets off balance during the quarter.

 

Given persistent concerns about worldwide growth, social and political unrest in numerous emerging markets and a lack of inflationary impulses in the developed world, it should come as no surprise that a flight to safety and quality would push up note and bond prices. Consequently, long positions in German, French, Italian, Japanese, Canadian and U.S. note and bond futures were profitable. Long positions in U.S. and German short term interest rate futures also registered gains. On the other hand, trading Australian and British note and bond futures was unprofitable.

 

Equity prices were particularly volatile during the quarter as the markets digested weather related growth problems in the U.S., slowing Chinese growth, the outlook for U.S. quantitative easing, and Chinese policy efforts to wring excess debt and capacity out of the economy without threatening too many corporate defaults or bankruptcies. Losses from trading of and long positions in Chinese, Hong Kong, Korean, Japanese, Singaporean and Australian equity futures slightly outweighed the gains from long U.S., German, Spanish and Canadian equity futures positions.

 

Foreign exchange markets were rattled by the political and economic turmoil in many emerging markets, by monetary policy developments in China and the U.S., as well as by growth concerns. Short U.S. dollar positions against sterling, the Indian rupee, the New Zealand dollar, and the Swiss franc were profitable, as were long dollar trades against Chile and Russia and a long New Zealand/short Canada trade. These gains were partially offset by losses on: short dollar trades against the euro, Czech koruna, Polish zloty and Korean won; a long U.S./short Singapore dollar position; long euro trades versus Australia and Turkey; and trading the Australian dollar relative to the yen and pound sterling.

 

Turning to agricultural commodities, long positions in soybeans, soybean meal, corn, coffee, cocoa, cotton and livestock, and a short wheat trade were profitable. Meanwhile, short sugar and soybean oil trades produced small losses.

 

Metal trading was unprofitable due to losses from long copper, lead, gold and silver trades and from a short aluminum position. A long nickel trade produced a partially offsetting profit.

 

Energy trading was marginally profitable as gains from a long WTI crude position and trading of natural gas outweighed the losses from long Brent crude and London gas oil positions.

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

The Trust does not engage in off-balance sheet arrangements with other entities.

 

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

 

The Trust does not enter into any contractual obligations or commercial commitments to make future payments of a type that would be typical for an operating company or that would affect its liquidity or capital resources. The Trust’s sole business is trading futures, forward currency, spot, option and swap contracts, both long (contracts to buy) and short (contacts to sell). The Trust may also engage in trading swaps. All such contracts are settled by offset, not delivery. Substantially all such contracts are for settlement within four months of the trade date and substantially all such contracts are held by the Trust for less than four months before being offset or rolled over into new contracts with similar maturities. The Trust’s financial statements present a Condensed Schedule of Investments setting forth net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Trust’s open futures and forward currency contracts, both long and short, at March 31, 2015.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Value at Risk is a measure of the maximum amount which the Trust could reasonably be expected to lose in a given market sector. However, the inherent uncertainty of the Trust's speculative trading and the recurrence in the markets traded by the Trust of market movements far exceeding expectations could result in actual trading or non-trading losses far beyond the indicated value at risk or the Trust's experience to date (i.e., "risk of ruin"). In light of the foregoing as well as the risks and uncertainties intrinsic to all future projections, the inclusion of the quantification included in this section should not be considered to constitute any assurance or representation that the Trust's losses in any market sector will be limited to Value at Risk or by the Trust's attempts to manage its market risk.

 

Materiality, as used in this section "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk," is based on an assessment of reasonably possible market movements and the potential losses caused by such movements, taking into account the leverage, optionality and multiplier features of the Trust's market sensitive instruments.

25

 


 

 

Quantifying the Trust's Trading Value at Risk

 

Quantitative Forward-Looking Statements

 

The following quantitative disclosures regarding the Trust's market risk exposures contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor from civil liability provided for such statements by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (set forth in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). All quantitative disclosures in this section are deemed to be forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor, except for statements of historical fact.

 

The Trust's risk exposure in the various market sectors traded by the Managing Owner is quantified below in terms of Value at Risk. Due to the Trust's mark-to-market accounting, any loss in the fair value of the Trust's open positions is directly reflected in the Trust's earnings (realized or unrealized) and cash flow (at least in the case of exchange-traded contracts in which profits and losses on open positions are settled daily through variation margin).

 

Exchange maintenance margin requirements have been used by the Trust as the measure of its Value at Risk. Maintenance margin requirements are set by exchanges to equal or exceed 95-99% of the maximum one-day losses in the fair value of any given contract incurred during the time period over which historical price fluctuations are researched for purposes of establishing margin levels. The maintenance margin levels are established by dealers and exchanges using historical price studies as well as an assessment of current market volatility (including the implied volatility of the options on a given futures contract) and economic fundamentals to provide a probabilistic estimate of the maximum expected near-term one-day price fluctuation.

 

The Trust calculates Value at Risk for forward currency contracts that are not exchange traded using exchange maintenance margin requirements for equivalent or similar futures positions as the measure of Value at Risk.

 

In quantifying the Trust’s Value at Risk, 100% positive correlation in the different positions held in each market risk category has been assumed. Consequently, the margin requirements applicable to the open contracts have simply been aggregated to determine each trading category’s aggregate Value at Risk. The diversification effects resulting from the fact that the Trust’s positions are rarely, if ever, 100% positively correlated have not been reflected.

 

The Trust's Trading Value at Risk in Different Market Sectors

 

The following table indicates average trading Value at Risk associated with the Trust's open positions by market category for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Trust's average total capitalization was approximately $244,000,000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sector

 

 

Average value at risk

 

% of Average Capitalization

 

High value at risk

 

Low value at risk

Currencies

 

$

7.4

 

3.1% 

 

7.4

 

7.4

Energies

 

 

2.3

 

0.9% 

 

2.3

 

2.3

Grains

 

 

0.7

 

0.3% 

 

0.7

 

0.7

Interest rates

 

 

6.4

 

2.6% 

 

6.4

 

6.4

Livestock

 

 

0.1

 

0.0% 

 

0.1

 

0.1

Metals

 

 

2.8

 

1.1% 

 

2.8

 

2.8

Softs

 

 

0.5

 

0.2% 

 

0.5

 

0.5

Stock indices

 

 

12.2

 

5.0% 

 

12.2

 

12.2

 

 

$

32.4

 

13.2% 

 

 

 

 

 

Average, Value at Risk amounts relate to the quarter-end amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Average capitalization is the average of the Trust's approximate capitalization at the end of each of the three months ended March 31, 2015. Dollar amounts represent millions of dollars.

 

Material Limitations on Value at Risk as an Assessment of Market Risk

 

The face value of the market sector instruments held by the Trust is typically many times the applicable maintenance margin requirement (maintenance margin requirements generally range between approximately 1% and 10% of contract face value) as well as many times the capitalization of the Trust. The magnitude of the Trust’s open positions creates a “risk of ruin” not typically found in most other investment vehicles. Because of the size of its positions, certain market conditions — unusual, but historically recurring from time to time — could cause the Trust to incur severe losses over a short period of time. The foregoing Value at Risk table — as well as the past performance of the Trust — give no indication of this “risk of ruin.”

 

26

 


 

Non-Trading Risk

 

The Trust has non-trading market risk on its foreign cash balances not needed for margin. However, these balances (as well as any market risk they represent) are immaterial.

 

The Trust also has non-trading cash flow risk as a result of holding a substantial portion (approximately 90%) of its assets in U.S. Treasury notes and other short-term debt instruments (as well as any market risk they represent) for margin and cash management purposes. Although the Managing Owner does not anticipate that, even in the case of major interest rate movements, the Trust would sustain a material mark-to-market loss on its securities positions, if short-term interest rates decline so will the Trust’s cash management income. The Trust also maintains a portion (approximately between 5% and 10%) of its assets in cash and in a U.S. government securities and related instruments money market fund. These cash balances are also subject (as well as any market risk they represent) to cash flow risk, which is not material.

 

Qualitative Disclosures

 

There have been no material changes in the qualitative disclosures about market risk since the end of the preceding fiscal year.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Managing Owner, with the participation of its principal executive officers and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures with respect to the Trust as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, and, based on its evaluation, has concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective. There were no changes in the Managing Owner’s internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Managing Owner’s internal controls over financial reporting with respect to the Trust.

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

None.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

There are no material changes from the risk factors as previously disclosed in Form 10-K, filed March 30, 2015.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND THE USE OF PROCEEDS

 

(a)

There have been no sales of unregistered securities of the Trust during the three months ended March 31, 2015

 

(c)

Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, Unitholders may redeem their Units at the end of each calendar month at then current month-end net asset value per Unit. The redemption of Units has no impact on the value of Units that remain outstanding and Units are not reissued once redeemed.

 

The following table summarizes the redemptions by Unitholders during the three months ended March 31, 2015. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series 1

Series 3

Date of
Redemption

 

Units Redeemed

 

NAV per Unit

Units Redeemed

 

NAV per Unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 31, 2015

 

2,395.616 

 $

1,084.07 
9.888 

 $

1,331.34 

February 28, 2015

 

6,291.586 

 

1,083.90 
158.320 

 

1,335.07 

March 31, 2015

 

3,136.956 

 

1,131.05 
107.980 

 

1,385.78 

Total

 

11,824.158 

 

 

276.188 

 

 

 

27

 


 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not Applicable.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

The following exhibits are included herewith:

 

31.01 Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer

31.02 Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer

31.03 Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer

32.01 Section 1350 Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer

32.02 Section 1350 Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer

32.03 Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer

101.INS  XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

28

 


 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

By:

Millburn Ridgefield Corporation,

 

Managing Owner

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 14, 2015

 

 

/s/ Michael W. Carter

 

 

Michael W. Carter

 

Vice-President

 

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

29