Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

A. Basis of Accounting

The following significant accounting policies are consistently followed by the Trust in the preparation of its financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Certain statements and captions in the financial statements for the prior year have been changed to conform to the current financial statement presentation. Certain amounts in the financial statements for the prior year have been reclassified to conform to the current financial statement presentation.

Derivatives, Methods of Accounting, Derivatives Not Designated or Qualifying as Hedges [Policy Text Block]

B. Investment in Index Futures

The Trust seeks to track the results of a fully collateralized investment in futures contracts on an index composed of a diversified group of commodities futures, including energy commodities, precious and industrial metal commodities, agricultural commodities and livestock commodities. The Trust seeks to track the investment returns of the Index before payment of the Trust’s expenses and liabilities.

The assets of the Trust consist of Index Futures and cash or other Collateral Assets used to satisfy applicable margin requirements for those Index Futures positions. Index Futures are exchange-traded index futures contracts on theS&P GSCI-ER, and are expected to include contracts of different terms and expirations. The Trust is expected to roll out of existing positions in Index Futures and establish new positions in Index Futures on an ongoing basis. When establishing positions in Index Futures, the Trust is required to deposit cash or other Collateral Assets with the broker as “initial margin.” On a daily basis, the Trust is obligated to pay, or entitled to receive, cash in an amount equal to the change in the daily settlement level of its Index Futures positions. Such payments or receipts are known as variation margin and recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation. When an Index Futures contract is closed, the Trust records a realized gain or loss based on the difference between the value of the Index Futures contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Index Futures are derivative instruments valued at fair value, which the Trustee has determined to be that day’s announced CME settlement price. If there is no announced settlement price for a particular Index Futures contract on that day, the Trustee will use the most recently announced CME settlement price unless the Trustee, in consultation with the Sponsor, determines that such price is inappropriate as a basis for valuation. The Trust’s derivatives are not designated as hedges, and all changes in the fair value are reflected in the statements of operations.

For futures contracts, counterparty credit risk is mitigated because futures contracts are exchange-traded and the exchange’s clearing house acts as central counterparty to all exchange-traded futures contracts (although customers continue to have credit exposure to the clearing member who holds their account).

Please refer to Note 9 for additional disclosures regarding the Trust’s investments in futures contracts.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

C. Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Trust considers cash and cash equivalents to be highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

D. Short-Term Investments

Short-term investments on the statements of assets and liabilities consist principally of short-term fixed income securities with original maturities of one year or less. These investments are valued at fair value.

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Trust had short-term investments held at brokers of $62,560,188 and $52,853,943, respectively, which were posted as margin for the Trust’s Index Futures positions.

Securities Transactions Income and Expense Recognition [Policy Text Block]

E. Securities Transactions, Income and Expense Recognition

Securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Other income and expenses are recognized on the accrual basis.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

F. Income Taxes

The Trust is treated as a partnership for federal, state and local income tax purposes.

No provision for federal, state, and local income taxes has been made in the accompanying financial statements because the Trust is not subject to income taxes. Shareholders are individually responsible for their own tax payments on their proportionate share of income, gain, loss, deduction, expense and credit.

The Sponsor has reviewed the tax positions as of September 30, 2015, inclusive of the open tax return years, and has determined that no provision for income tax is required in the Trust’s financial statements.

Calculation of Net Asset Value [Policy Text Block]

G. Calculation of Net Asset Value

The net asset value of the Trust on any given day is obtained by subtracting the Trust’s accrued expenses and other liabilities on that day from the value of (1) the Trust’s Index Futures positions and Collateral Assets on that day, (2) the interest earned on those assets by the Trust and (3) any other assets of the Trust, as of 4:00 p.m. (New York time) that day. The Trustee determines the net asset value per Share (the “NAV”) by dividing the net asset value of the Trust on a given day by the number of Shares outstanding at the time the calculation is made. The NAV is calculated each day on which NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”) is open for regular trading, as soon as practicable after 4:00 p.m. (New York time).

Distributions [Policy Text Block]

H. Distributions

Interest and distributions received by the Trust on its assets may be used to acquire additional Index Futures and Collateral Assets or, in the discretion of the Sponsor, distributed to shareholders. The Trust is under no obligation to make periodic distributions to shareholders.