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Investments in Derivatives Contracts
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Notes to Financial Statements  
Investments in Derivatives Contracts

NOTE F – INVESTMENTS IN DERIVATIVES CONTRACTS

 

Investments in derivative contracts are subject to additional risks that can result in a loss of the investment. The Fund’s activities and exposure are classified by the following underlying risks: interest rate, credit foreign currency exchange rate, commodity price, and equity price risks. In addition, the Fund is also subject to counterparty risk should it’s counterparties fail to meet the terms of their contracts.

 

The Fund’s derivative activity is stated at fair value. Changes in unrealized appreciation or depreciation of the investments are recognized as unrealized gains and losses in the statement of operations.

 

Forward Contracts

 

Forward currency and commodities transactions are contracts for delayed delivery of specific currencies and commodities in which the seller agrees to make delivery at a specified date. The Fund enters into these contracts as speculative investments in the change in value of foreign currencies. Risks associated with foreign currency and commodities contracts include the inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts as well as movements in fair value and exchange rates. Changes in unrealized appreciation or depreciation of the investments are recognized as unrealized gains and losses in the statement of operations.

 

Futures Contracts

 

A futures contract represents a commitment for the future purchase or sale of an asset at a specified price on a specified date. The fund may use futures contracts to gain exposure to, or hedge against, changes in the value of equities and commodities, interest rates or foreign currencies.

 

Futures contracts provide reduced counterparty risk to the Fund since futures are exchange-traded. The purchase and sale of futures contracts requires margin deposits with a Futures Commission Merchant. (“FCM”) Payments are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the fluctuations in the contract value, and are recorded as unrealized gains or losses on the Fund’s financial statements.

 

The volume of the Fund’s derivative activities based on their notional amounts and number of contracts as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

 

September 30, 2011 Long Exposure  Short Exposure
Primary Underlying Risk   Notional Amounts    Number of Contracts    Notional Amounts    Number of Contracts 
Foreign currency exchange rate                    
     Forward contracts  $5,663,000    5,899,913   $10,869,000    11,268,313 
Commodity price                    
     Futures contracts   264,689,000    1,210    153,879,000    1,121 
Total  $270,352,000    5,901,123   $164,748,000    11,269,434 

 

December 31, 2010 Long Exposure  Short Exposure
Primary Underlying Risk   Notional Amounts    Number of Contracts    Notional Amounts    Number of Contracts 
Foreign currency exchange rate                    
     Forward contracts  $26,660,000    8,582,892   $23,414,000    8,732,908 
Commodity price                    
     Futures contracts   131,702,000    1,032    40,518,000    345 
Total  $158,362,000    8,583,924   $63,932,000    8,733,253 

 

The fair value amounts of derivative instruments in the statement of financial condition as derivative contracts, categorized by primary underlying risk for the period ended September 30, 2011 and year ended December 31, 2010:

 

   September 30, 2011  December 31, 2010
Primary underlying risk  Derivative Assets  Derivative Liabilities  Derivative Assets  Derivative Liabilities
Foreign currency exchange rate                     
     Forward contracts  $411,079   $248,284   $1,496,068   $1,088,500 
Commodity price                    
     Futures contracts   5,842,617    4,392,155    1,431,993    245,737 
                     
Gross derivative assets and liabilities   6,253,696    4,640,439    2,928,061    1,334,237 
                     
Less: Master netting arrangements   -0-    -0-    -0-    -0- 
Less: Cash collateral applied   -0-    -0-    -0-    -0- 
                     
Net derivative assets and liabilities  $6,253,696   $4,640,439   $2,928,061   $1,334,237 

 

The net gain and loss amounts included in the statement of operations as net gain from derivative contracts, categorized by underlying risk for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

Primary underlying risk  For the three months ended September 30, 2011  For the three months ended September 30, 2010  For the nine months ended September 30, 2011  For the nine months ended September 30, 2010
Foreign currency exchange rate                     
     Forward contracts  $(44,771)  $(72,913)  $(26,377)  $138,046 
Commodity price                    
     Futures contracts   918,959    1,826,464    (1,346,316)   2,050,382 
                     
Net derivative assets and liabilities  $874,188   $1,753,551   $(1,372,693)  $2,188,428 

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, futures contracts per Note B are presented net of interest income and expense, and commission expense for a net decrease of $330,701 and $185,967 respectively.