Hedge funds and mutual funds have many similarities, but many differences exist as well. Know the benefits of each before making the decision to invest.
In 1949 Australian Alfred Jones was credited with the term "hedge fund". Historically it derives its name from the use of hedging to manage risk while achieving superior returns. Today, a hedge fund is an un-regulated investment vehicle designated for sophisticated, also known as the "Accredited Investor".
Mutual funds gained popularity in the 1980's. Prior to this time, the problem of the small investor was in obtaining sufficient knowledge to make informed investment decisions, and so the average person avoided stock market investing. Instead money was held in traditional savings accounts or placed with a bank in a Guaranteed Investment Certificate ("GIC") or Certificate of Deposit ("CD").
What to do. The small investor was not able to obtain a professional money manager without $10 million or more to start. But what if he could pool his money with other small investors to reach this minimum threshold. And so the mutual fund was created to address these exact concerns.
The mutual fund concept was simple, allow the un-sophisticated investor access to the strategies of the professional money manager. This was done by pooling small sums of money, as little as $20.00 deposited monthly. In return, the fund company would use professional money managers using professional investment strategies to easily out perform traditional bank savings products.
The mutual fund investor had other problems. Because they did not understand the nature of the investments made for them, government regulators got involved to protect investor rights. And so mutual fund investing became regulated and soon took on a life of its own. Rules were set in place to govern what could be held within a mutual fund and how the investment strategies were marketed to the public. Even what could be invested and what should be avoided.
While much evolution has transpired since the early days of the 80's. One thing is for certain, mutual fund investing is all about what it cannot do. While this article is not focused on these issues, there are some glaring examples the investor needs to know. In times of market un-certainty, the mutual fund cannot sell and move to cash for safety. The manager must remain fully invested at all times making the investor, in consultation with his Investment Advisor, responsible for proper asset allocation. The mutual fund also cannot employ risk management or hedging techniques because they are deemed too sophisticated for the small investor to understand. So to avoid investor complaints, these important strategies are discouraged by managers and outlawed by regulators.
In the end, all of the benefits started by the mutual fund industry to provide safety of capital have been regulated away from the interests of the small investor. In fact, these are the exact investors which need safety of capital most of all. Many market observers believe the industry has become over regulated and as such, do more harm than good.
To-date, the hedge fund industry has been able in all country jurisdictions to avoid nuisance government meddling. The recent wall street initiated financial melt down has proven that even a self regulated industry is not immune. It seems big company rights take precedence over investor rights. So some regulation may be forth coming. Historically, the hedge fund industry has been able to avoid regulation by offering its products only to the Accredited Investor. There is a strict agreed upon formula based on wealth accumulation. The premise being if you were smart enough to accumulate wealth, then you are smart enough to understand the sophisticated investments being recommended.
Typically hedge fund investors are in direct contrast to mutual fund investors and thus have different needs. The mutual fund investor has modest wealth and little investment knowledge. The hedge fund investor has significant wealth with greater investment understanding. Therefore one is regulated to protect the investor and the other is not.
The above description is not the only difference that separates the two. Hedge funds can employ a complex strategy of investment vehicles known only to the fund manager. Many hedge fund managers are protective of any proprietary trading formula which will provide an edge over their competition and disclosure of their trading style is not required.
Mutual funds are sold through an Investment Advisor who will make comparisons, explain and make recommendations for a balanced portfolio. Hedge fund investing can be more difficult. Firstly, there can be difficulty in locating a list of the availability of funds. There are however helpful data-bases for this. Then you must undertake your own due diligence to ascertain if it is the right asset mix for your overall portfolio.
Thirdly, you'll need to have an understanding of the different investment strategies. Do you choose a value fund or a growth fund. CTA funds are out performing these days and what about a suitable bond fund. Does my fund employ hedging and should I invest in an off-shore fund to obtain the tax benefits.
There are certainly many things to think about when selecting the proper investment vehicle. Make your selection with intelligence and proper planning. Ask around and be inquisitive. Your level of investment knowledge and the time needed to devote to this topic will dictate which is best for you.
Dwayne Strocen is a registered CTA, Portfolio Manager. He manages the Global Climate Fund, an environmentally friendly hedge fund focused on the reduction of greenhouse gases. Website: http://www.co2climatefund.com
View more information about hedge funds and Who We Are
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Transparency In Hedge Fund Investing Is Critical
Due to some recent high profile fraud cases within the hedge fund industry, many investors are seeking greater transparency from their investment managers. While many managers protect their proprietary trading programs, there is one sure fire way to address this issue.
Fund redemptions are nothing new. Every recession or bear market sees investors redeeming their fund investments and moving to asset classes which provide a greater degree of safety. For most, this is the Government Treasury Bill also called the T-Bill.
While reasons for redemptions are as varied as the investment selections themselves, it seems that individual investors are uncertain of their understanding of what their money has been invested in. While mutual funds are marketed to the investor with a lower knowledge of investment products, the hedge fund has always been the investment choice for more knowledgeable investors or the "Accredited Investor". But now it seems even this group is calling for the need of greater understanding from their investment managers.
The battle for returns which out perform the index has resulted in many Portfolio Managers refusing to disclose their trading program for fear others will duplicate their trading style. It is said by many managers that it's this ability to observe unique characteristics in the market place that differentiates their funds performance from the typical returns generated by bottom quartile performing funds and fund managers. Of course the unregulated hedge fund industry has perpetuated this myth by trusting the Accredited Investor with an above average knowledge of the market and his ability to select the correct investment for their portfolio. It seems the Accredited Investors does not always posses greater knowledge than their more un-sophisticated mutual fund brethren.
So that bears the question of how to obtain this transparency to the satisfaction of the investing public? And the answer is the Managed Account.
Managed Accounts are simply individual accounts opened in the name of the investor. These accounts are not pooled, yet they are identically structured and managed by the hedge fund Portfolio Manager in the same style as the pooled fund. The critical difference is the investors ability to see every trading transaction performed in the account by the fund manager.
The popularity of the pooled investment structure is that investors do not have to deposit large sums of money to utilize the services of a professional Portfolio Manager. Most successful professional Portfolio Managers do not accept accounts less than US$10 million dollars.
The hedge fund and mutual fund gained popularity by allowing smaller sums of money to be pooled with other deposits from many other investors. So while you can currently participate in a hedge fund investment for $100,000, and a mutual fund for $50., a managed account may require a minimum investment in excess of $1 million. Not so good for everybody.
But lets suppose you can convince your hedge fund manager to accept your $100,000 what advantage do you gain.
1. the investment account is actually in your name and not in the funds name;
2. your account is segregated from all other trading accounts;
3. instead of waiting for your monthly or quarterly statements, you can see the activity in your account on a daily basis in real time;
4. cash deposits or withdrawals can be simplified;
5. you have an overall increase of account transparency; and
6. you can no longer claim you did not know what was going on in your account. (oops, is that a benefit).
There are also some disadvantages. Or put another way, the pooled investment structure provides some distinct advantages which originally made them popular since the first hedge fund was created in 1949. These funds should not be confused with the investment account managed by your stock broker. The professional Portfolio Manager will continue to exercise complete trading autonomy and does not want your advice on how to manage the assets in your account.
Advantages for remaining in a hedge fund or mutual fund:
1. investors can obtain the services of a professional fund manager with smaller sums of money;
2. management costs are cheaper since it is more economical to manage one large account instead of many smaller accounts;
3. you pay one flat management fee, no commissions; and best of all
4. you still have someone to blame if things go wrong.
It is estimated that the hedge fund industry managed $2.7 trillion dollars by the end of 2008. The mutual fund industry manages $19 trillion investment dollars. So there is no question of the popularity of the industry since that first fund in 1949.
If transparency is an issue for you, you need to take a long, hard look and evaluate the pros and cons wisely. Take some time to speak with your fund manager about a managed account, it just might be the alternative you've been looking for.
Dwayne Strocen is a registered CTA and derivatives analyst assessing market risk for institutional investors. He also manages the Genuine USA Index Fund, which is focused on the indices of the USA. Website: http://www.genuineCTA.com
View more information about his managed account program and about trading greenhouse gases.
Fund redemptions are nothing new. Every recession or bear market sees investors redeeming their fund investments and moving to asset classes which provide a greater degree of safety. For most, this is the Government Treasury Bill also called the T-Bill.
While reasons for redemptions are as varied as the investment selections themselves, it seems that individual investors are uncertain of their understanding of what their money has been invested in. While mutual funds are marketed to the investor with a lower knowledge of investment products, the hedge fund has always been the investment choice for more knowledgeable investors or the "Accredited Investor". But now it seems even this group is calling for the need of greater understanding from their investment managers.
The battle for returns which out perform the index has resulted in many Portfolio Managers refusing to disclose their trading program for fear others will duplicate their trading style. It is said by many managers that it's this ability to observe unique characteristics in the market place that differentiates their funds performance from the typical returns generated by bottom quartile performing funds and fund managers. Of course the unregulated hedge fund industry has perpetuated this myth by trusting the Accredited Investor with an above average knowledge of the market and his ability to select the correct investment for their portfolio. It seems the Accredited Investors does not always posses greater knowledge than their more un-sophisticated mutual fund brethren.
So that bears the question of how to obtain this transparency to the satisfaction of the investing public? And the answer is the Managed Account.
Managed Accounts are simply individual accounts opened in the name of the investor. These accounts are not pooled, yet they are identically structured and managed by the hedge fund Portfolio Manager in the same style as the pooled fund. The critical difference is the investors ability to see every trading transaction performed in the account by the fund manager.
The popularity of the pooled investment structure is that investors do not have to deposit large sums of money to utilize the services of a professional Portfolio Manager. Most successful professional Portfolio Managers do not accept accounts less than US$10 million dollars.
The hedge fund and mutual fund gained popularity by allowing smaller sums of money to be pooled with other deposits from many other investors. So while you can currently participate in a hedge fund investment for $100,000, and a mutual fund for $50., a managed account may require a minimum investment in excess of $1 million. Not so good for everybody.
But lets suppose you can convince your hedge fund manager to accept your $100,000 what advantage do you gain.
1. the investment account is actually in your name and not in the funds name;
2. your account is segregated from all other trading accounts;
3. instead of waiting for your monthly or quarterly statements, you can see the activity in your account on a daily basis in real time;
4. cash deposits or withdrawals can be simplified;
5. you have an overall increase of account transparency; and
6. you can no longer claim you did not know what was going on in your account. (oops, is that a benefit).
There are also some disadvantages. Or put another way, the pooled investment structure provides some distinct advantages which originally made them popular since the first hedge fund was created in 1949. These funds should not be confused with the investment account managed by your stock broker. The professional Portfolio Manager will continue to exercise complete trading autonomy and does not want your advice on how to manage the assets in your account.
Advantages for remaining in a hedge fund or mutual fund:
1. investors can obtain the services of a professional fund manager with smaller sums of money;
2. management costs are cheaper since it is more economical to manage one large account instead of many smaller accounts;
3. you pay one flat management fee, no commissions; and best of all
4. you still have someone to blame if things go wrong.
It is estimated that the hedge fund industry managed $2.7 trillion dollars by the end of 2008. The mutual fund industry manages $19 trillion investment dollars. So there is no question of the popularity of the industry since that first fund in 1949.
If transparency is an issue for you, you need to take a long, hard look and evaluate the pros and cons wisely. Take some time to speak with your fund manager about a managed account, it just might be the alternative you've been looking for.
Dwayne Strocen is a registered CTA and derivatives analyst assessing market risk for institutional investors. He also manages the Genuine USA Index Fund, which is focused on the indices of the USA. Website: http://www.genuineCTA.com
View more information about his managed account program and about trading greenhouse gases.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Consider A CTA Managed Fund For Balanced Asset Allocation
There are many investment strategies for both the novice and sophisticated investor. The CTA managed fund has been overlooked until recently. Now the top performing investments are managed by CTA's and you should consider including these in your portfolio.
You might be wondering what a CTA is. A CTA is a Portfolio Manager for derivative products such as foreign exchange, commodities or futures. If you're familiar with traditional mutual funds or hedge funds, you'll know the investment decisions are made by a specialist in stocks or bonds. These are also called equity and fixed income products.
An equity fund is managed by an equity Portfolio Manager known as a CFA and a bond fund is managed by a fixed income Portfolio Manager also a CFA. Their exists a third type of Portfolio Manager and that is one responsible for managing a fund which is invested in products like currency, carbon emissions, precious metals, agriculture products and others. These Portfolio Managers are known as CTAs and they manage CTA funds sometimes known as a Managed Futures Fund.
Despite the obvious, each investment style has its own unique characteristics. For example, a traditional equity investor only makes money when the stock market is rising. They lose money during a falling or bear market. Wouldn't it be fantastic to win no matter which direction the market went. Well that is exactly what happens in a CTA fund. The CTA can buy or sell at random. We call this being "long" or "short". When long, you're betting the market is going up and when short, you're betting the market is falling. A CTA makes money no matter which direction prices are headed.
Now that you know the basics, lets look at why CTA funds have out performed equity and bond funds. Since September 2008 the wall street induced sub-prime mortgage fiasco has caused stock prices to plummet. If you held an equity mutual fund or a stock portfolio of your own, you will have lost money. In fact since Sept 1, 2008 the Dow Jones Industrial Average has lost 20.36 percent. According to the Managed Futures CTA database, the average CTA Fund YTD ROR (Rate of Return) to June 2009 is +2.14 percent. That’s a whopping difference of 22.50 percent. These funds are definitely worth looking at.
A major advantage is the ability to trade the underlying commodity product. Why buy a company that's involved in oil extraction when you can buy the oil itself. The reason why stock market investing becomes difficult, is the many different factors that come into play. There is the ability of management, economic pressure, competitive pressure, union demands, changing consumer habits and a host of other factors that determine the profitability of a company.
A CTA fund has none of these issues to contend with. Investors who purchase Aluminum or High Grade Copper on the New York Mercantile Exchange are affected only by issues of Supply And Demand. During economic periods of growth, prices rise and during periods of recession, prices fall. So while your equity fund is sitting on the sidelines waiting for a market re-bound, the CTA fund is profitably trading a falling market.
I would be remiss if I did not discuss the use of leverage. Unlike an equity fund, A CTA fund uses leverage. For example, to purchase $100,000 Canadian Dollars cost only $350 to the CTA. So when the dollar rises from 91 cents to 92 cents, the fund makes a profit of US$1,000. That equates to a 186 percent profit. If we look at this from another angle it might become clear. To purchase 1,000 barrels of crude oil at US$60 per barrel would cost US$60,000 to the cash consumer. The NYMEX charges a deposit, we call this margin, of US$6,000. Should Crude Oil rise to $65 dollars, the profit is $5,000 or 83 percent profit.
Of course, the use of leverage can be dangerous as losses can quickly escalate. Should Crude Oil have fallen to $55 instead of rising, a loss of $5,000 would have resulted. Of course, CTA funds are not the only funds to utilize leverage. Many equity hedge funds use leverage routinely and depending on your overall investment objective a balanced asset mix will dictate the percentage of your portfolio allocated to such a fund.
There are many types of CTA funds to select from. Agriculture funds, energy funds, foreign exchange funds, index funds, fixed income funds and greenhouse gas or global warming funds. Choose the one that’s right for you, but when balancing your investment portfolio don't over look this important sector for proper and complete asset allocation.
Dwayne Strocen is a registered CTA, Portfolio Manager. He manages the Global Climate Fund, an environmentally friendly hedge fund focused on the reduction of greenhouse gases. Website: http://www.genuineCTA.com
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Strategic Partnership Agreement Between CTA Firm Genuine Trading Solutions And Leading Environmental Climate Change Consulting firm Karbone
TORONTO, April 2009 – CTA Firm Genuine Trading Solutions Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement With Leading Environmental Credit Brokerage and Climate Change Consulting firm Karbone.About Karbone
Genuine Trading Solutions President and CEO, Dwayne Strocen and Karbone Executive Director Izzet Bensusan announced today a Strategic Partnership agreement. "The two companies will be pooling their resources to provide an enhanced product line of services to existing as well as future emitters of CO2 carbon emissions. The conception for this Strategic Partnership is in response to calls from North American customers to provide a more integrated service" says Mr. Strocen.
Working in a positive approach with Karbone to provide an enhanced service of OTC environmental credit brokerage is a step to providing greater integration of service in the form of both trading and managing risk. In working together, both companies can now provide a greater range of expertise to a largely fragmented industry. Mr. Bensusan says "We believe the marriage of the OTC market and the exchange traded market is the natural evolution of a fledgling industry". And he adds "Our partnership will allow us to much better serve both of our US and Canadian customers with an expanded service line and local knowledge"
Recent meetings between the leaders of Canada and the United States has brought a renewed response and positive reaction to a national commitment for the reduction of greenhouse gases in North America. Although specifics were not mentioned, it seems clear that government mandated regulation is not far off. Taking a significant step forward to pre-empt government regulation will place this company as a leading edge provider in support of the Kyoto Protocol, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Western Climate Initiative and the Specified Gas Emitters Regulation of Alberta.
"We are pleased to extend our expertise into this exciting marketplace and believe the real winner is the carbon industry as it evolves to the ever changing demands of its participants", says Dwayne Strocen, Genuine Trading Solutions President and CEO.
About Genuine Trading Solutions
Genuine Trading Solutions is a registered CTA firm specializing in exchange trading and risk management hedging of derivative products including carbon emissions on the worlds climate exchanges. The company is focused on providing a complete risk management service in reducing risk associated with adverse economic events, including greenhouse gases.
Recently Genuine Trading Solutions announced its intention to launch a new hedge fund initiative for the benefit of ethically minded investors to participate directly in the reduction of greenhouse gases and credits. The fund is clearly a viable choice for those investors interested in participating in socially responsible investing and making a statement regarding the environment.
About Karbone
Karbone is a global environmental credit brokerage and climate change consulting firm operating from its New York and London offices. The company advises its domestic and international clients on cost effective strategies and technologies to address climate change business risks. Karbone is founded on the principle of helping its clients to execute the most effective climate change strategy. Karbone bases this on ensuring its team has up to date knowledge on climate change related issues and environmental markets and access to the widest range of transaction capabilities for executing strategies. Karbone developed its climate change consulting and environmental credit execution group to meet the particular needs of our clients across multiple industries. This includes utilities, energy firms and specialized funds.
For more information please contact:
Genuine Trading Solutions Ltd.
Dwayne Strocen
Phone: +1 416 302 6282
e-mail: press@genuineCTA.com
http://www.genuineCTA.com
KARBONE
Press Relations
Phone: +1 212 291 2900
press@karbone.com
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Carbon Emission Trading, The Basics Explained
The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 was signed by 38 signatory countries to address the issues of greenhouse gasses and resulting climate change issues. The following article will provide an understanding of trading greenhouse gas emissions.
The Kyoto Protocol is a UN-led international agreement reached in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan to address the problems of climate change and the reduction greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto Protocol went into force on February 2005.
Signatory countries are committed to moving away from fossil fuel energy sources - oil, gas, and coal, to renewable sources of energy such as hydro, wind and solar power, and to less environmentally harmful ways of burning fossil fuels. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are mainly generated by burning fossil fuels. Higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions cause global warming and climate change.
The Protocol commits 38 industrialized countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2008-2012 to overall levels that are 5.2 percent below 1990 levels. Targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction were established for each industrialized country. Developing countries including China and India were asked to set voluntary targets for greenhouse gas emissions.
The Canadian target for Kyoto is to reduce by 2012, greenhouse gas emissions by six percent below their 1990. The United States did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol, and in February 2002 introduced the Clean Skies and Global Climate Change initiatives, in which targets for reduction in greenhouse gas emissions are linked directly to GDP and the size of the U.S. economy.
Trading of carbon emissions is linked to a program called Cap-and-Trade. Understanding this concept is necessary to begin effective trading. A central authority (usually a government or international body) sets a limit or cap on the amount of emissions discharged into the atmosphere. Companies that exceed the cap may be subject to fine or regulatory sanction. Therefore, those who find they cannot meet the conditions of the cap will look to buy credits from those who pollute less.
Many older established companies are forced to spend considerable sums of money modernizing plants. In many instances this takes time, usually years to achieve. In contrast to new generation technologies which are not faced with up-grading facilities to comply with 1990 emission standards. Trading emission credits is a way for low emission companies such as wind farms to sell credits to benefit higher emitting companies. Cap-and-trade programs ultimately aid in being a net benefit to the host country by enabling it to meet it's commitment to the Kyoto Protocol Agreement.
From the very beginning, this first phase of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme, or EU-ETS, was intended to be a learning period to work out the kinks and entice major greenhouse gas emitters on board.
On January 1, 2005, the EU-ETS came online with the cap-and-trade program covering approximately 12,000 installations including electricity production and some heavy industry. These 27 member countries of the European Union represents roughly 45 percent of total European CO2 emissions.
Now three years later, amid a flurry of expectations and public controversy, the European Union has credible results to back up its claim of success. Recently, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology analysis of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) affirms that despite rather unstable beginnings, the system has been an unprecedented success. More importantly, it opens the door for skeptical countries like the United States to follow suit.
The United States would have been required to reduce its emissions 7 percent below 1990 levels had it accepted ratification of Kyoto. Instead, U.S. emissions have now risen more than 16 percent between 1990 and 2005.
The Bush administration and Republican lawmakers opposed to emission caps have been touting the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, which consists of Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the United States. The aim of the initiative, which began in 2005, is to foster cooperation on ways to improve clean energy development and lower emissions without global mandates. But since the initiative started, the United States, India, and China have come under increased domestic pressure to move toward mandatory emission controls. California is among several U.S. states that have entered into partnerships or passed laws for controlling greenhouse gases ahead of the federal government, leading to a showdown with congressional lawmakers. Major U.S. cities have also instituted a host of policies designed to cut greenhouse gases.
Without the United States entering into a binding commitment, it is feared that several developing countries which have not yet signed plus some Kyoto signatories may be unwilling to agree to additional international commitments.
Dwayne Strocen is a registered Commodity Trading Advisor specializing in analyzing and hedging Market and Operational Risk using exchange traded and OTC derivatives. Website: http://www.genuineCTA.com.
View in depth information about Carbon Emissions and the benefits of hedging its risk.
The Kyoto Protocol is a UN-led international agreement reached in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan to address the problems of climate change and the reduction greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto Protocol went into force on February 2005.
Signatory countries are committed to moving away from fossil fuel energy sources - oil, gas, and coal, to renewable sources of energy such as hydro, wind and solar power, and to less environmentally harmful ways of burning fossil fuels. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are mainly generated by burning fossil fuels. Higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions cause global warming and climate change.
The Protocol commits 38 industrialized countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2008-2012 to overall levels that are 5.2 percent below 1990 levels. Targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction were established for each industrialized country. Developing countries including China and India were asked to set voluntary targets for greenhouse gas emissions.
The Canadian target for Kyoto is to reduce by 2012, greenhouse gas emissions by six percent below their 1990. The United States did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol, and in February 2002 introduced the Clean Skies and Global Climate Change initiatives, in which targets for reduction in greenhouse gas emissions are linked directly to GDP and the size of the U.S. economy.
Trading of carbon emissions is linked to a program called Cap-and-Trade. Understanding this concept is necessary to begin effective trading. A central authority (usually a government or international body) sets a limit or cap on the amount of emissions discharged into the atmosphere. Companies that exceed the cap may be subject to fine or regulatory sanction. Therefore, those who find they cannot meet the conditions of the cap will look to buy credits from those who pollute less.
Many older established companies are forced to spend considerable sums of money modernizing plants. In many instances this takes time, usually years to achieve. In contrast to new generation technologies which are not faced with up-grading facilities to comply with 1990 emission standards. Trading emission credits is a way for low emission companies such as wind farms to sell credits to benefit higher emitting companies. Cap-and-trade programs ultimately aid in being a net benefit to the host country by enabling it to meet it's commitment to the Kyoto Protocol Agreement.
From the very beginning, this first phase of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme, or EU-ETS, was intended to be a learning period to work out the kinks and entice major greenhouse gas emitters on board.
On January 1, 2005, the EU-ETS came online with the cap-and-trade program covering approximately 12,000 installations including electricity production and some heavy industry. These 27 member countries of the European Union represents roughly 45 percent of total European CO2 emissions.
Now three years later, amid a flurry of expectations and public controversy, the European Union has credible results to back up its claim of success. Recently, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology analysis of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) affirms that despite rather unstable beginnings, the system has been an unprecedented success. More importantly, it opens the door for skeptical countries like the United States to follow suit.
The United States would have been required to reduce its emissions 7 percent below 1990 levels had it accepted ratification of Kyoto. Instead, U.S. emissions have now risen more than 16 percent between 1990 and 2005.
The Bush administration and Republican lawmakers opposed to emission caps have been touting the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, which consists of Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the United States. The aim of the initiative, which began in 2005, is to foster cooperation on ways to improve clean energy development and lower emissions without global mandates. But since the initiative started, the United States, India, and China have come under increased domestic pressure to move toward mandatory emission controls. California is among several U.S. states that have entered into partnerships or passed laws for controlling greenhouse gases ahead of the federal government, leading to a showdown with congressional lawmakers. Major U.S. cities have also instituted a host of policies designed to cut greenhouse gases.
Without the United States entering into a binding commitment, it is feared that several developing countries which have not yet signed plus some Kyoto signatories may be unwilling to agree to additional international commitments.
Dwayne Strocen is a registered Commodity Trading Advisor specializing in analyzing and hedging Market and Operational Risk using exchange traded and OTC derivatives. Website: http://www.genuineCTA.com.
View in depth information about Carbon Emissions and the benefits of hedging its risk.
Monday, November 17, 2008
The Role Of A CTA, Commodity Trading Advisor
Today's Commodity Trading Advisor is no longer to be thought of only as a Portfolio Manager. His role has expanded considerably as investment products become more complex.
Commodity Trading Advisor, Genuine Trading Solutions, a registered CTA with the CFTC, says the responsibility today of a CTA is a constantly evolving role in today's market place.
Once upon a time a Commodity Trading Advisor was content to be known as a Portfolio Manager trading commodities and futures for a managed futures fund. There is no question today's investor has become more sophisticated. In response, today's selection of investment products has become ever more complex and varied, the need for the CTA to understand the uses and management of these products becomes even more acute.
So what exactly is the role of today's Commodity Trading Advisor. Certainly trading of derivative products for a managed futures fund continues to be as important as before. A CTA has also become more involved with derivative analytics. This role is essentially focused upon becoming an analyst to structure and analyze the more multi-faceted requirements demanded by hedge funds, pension funds and structured products.
The use of derivative analytics to manage the adverse risk of an equity or bond portfolio brought about by adverse market conditions is critical in preserving asset growth. The uses of hedging to prevent volatility has long been understood by the largest institutions but is now available to the smaller sized company and to the individual investor. No doubt as products continue to evolve so too will the CTA evolve to meet the need of today's professional money manager.
Derivative products are no longer limited to exchange traded commodities futures and options. There continues to be an ever expanding list of over-the-counter derivative products. These are SWAPS. SWAPS and privately transacted products transacted without the use of a recognized exchange. The difficulty is the buyer and seller must find each other to undertake such an arrangement, not always easy. The second problem is no liquidity. There is no one to sell this too should one of the parties wish to terminate the transaction prior to the agreed upon date.
A Commodity Trading Advisor's role is no longer sufficient to be limited to trading. It is now imperative to understand the industry in a new light so to understand the changing investment environment. Analysis now becomes the catalyst to include a value added service to retain customers. This includes structured products, risk management and OTC derivatives. Continuing education has been and continues to be the hallmark of the best in the industry.
Dwayne Strocen is a registered Commodity Trading Advisor specializing in analyzing and hedging Market and Operational Risk using exchange traded and OTC derivatives. Website: http://www.genuineCTA.com.
View more detailed information about Commodity Trading Advisors and understanding how to trade commodities.
Commodity Trading Advisor, Genuine Trading Solutions, a registered CTA with the CFTC, says the responsibility today of a CTA is a constantly evolving role in today's market place.
Once upon a time a Commodity Trading Advisor was content to be known as a Portfolio Manager trading commodities and futures for a managed futures fund. There is no question today's investor has become more sophisticated. In response, today's selection of investment products has become ever more complex and varied, the need for the CTA to understand the uses and management of these products becomes even more acute.
So what exactly is the role of today's Commodity Trading Advisor. Certainly trading of derivative products for a managed futures fund continues to be as important as before. A CTA has also become more involved with derivative analytics. This role is essentially focused upon becoming an analyst to structure and analyze the more multi-faceted requirements demanded by hedge funds, pension funds and structured products.
The use of derivative analytics to manage the adverse risk of an equity or bond portfolio brought about by adverse market conditions is critical in preserving asset growth. The uses of hedging to prevent volatility has long been understood by the largest institutions but is now available to the smaller sized company and to the individual investor. No doubt as products continue to evolve so too will the CTA evolve to meet the need of today's professional money manager.
Derivative products are no longer limited to exchange traded commodities futures and options. There continues to be an ever expanding list of over-the-counter derivative products. These are SWAPS. SWAPS and privately transacted products transacted without the use of a recognized exchange. The difficulty is the buyer and seller must find each other to undertake such an arrangement, not always easy. The second problem is no liquidity. There is no one to sell this too should one of the parties wish to terminate the transaction prior to the agreed upon date.
A Commodity Trading Advisor's role is no longer sufficient to be limited to trading. It is now imperative to understand the industry in a new light so to understand the changing investment environment. Analysis now becomes the catalyst to include a value added service to retain customers. This includes structured products, risk management and OTC derivatives. Continuing education has been and continues to be the hallmark of the best in the industry.
Dwayne Strocen is a registered Commodity Trading Advisor specializing in analyzing and hedging Market and Operational Risk using exchange traded and OTC derivatives. Website: http://www.genuineCTA.com.
View more detailed information about Commodity Trading Advisors and understanding how to trade commodities.
Market Risk – Not To Be Ignored or Overlooked
Understanding Market Risk and the solutions available to mitigate or eliminate financial loss in today's global market.
The first of a two part article
Fund managers, whether they be equity or bond traders, know all too well that returns are not simply a result of their asset selection prowess. Many external factors come into play. But what are the issues facing the professional money manager. Management of risk is one of the most important, and not all fund managers analyze their market risk. This is often explained as a lack of education and a failure to understand the mitigating solutions for off-setting risk.
Market risk is defined as "the unexpected financial loss following a market decline due to events out of your control." Stock or bond market volatility or market reversals can be the result of global events happening in far flung corners of the globe. Top analysts and fund managers simply do not have the resources to crystal ball gaze and predict those events.
Examples of several major unexpected events that sent shock waves throughout the financial community have been:
- 1982 Mexican Peso devaluation;
- 1987 stock market crash knows as "Black Monday";
- 1989 USA Savings and Loan Crisis;
- 1998 Russian Ruble devaluation;
- 1998 $125 billion collapse of Hedge Fund Long Term Capital Management;
- 2006 collapse of Hedge Fund Amaranth with losses of $5.85 billion.
In 1994 Bank J.P. Morgan developed a risk metrics model known as Value-At-Risk or VaR. While VaR is considered the industry standard of risk measurement, it has its drawbacks. VaR can measure total dollar value of a funds risk exposure within a certain level of confidence, usually 95 or 99 percent. What it cannot do, is predict when a triggering event will occur or the magnitude of the subsequent fallout. For some company's and funds, a steep decline or protracted recession can be devastating. Even forcing some un-hedged firms into bankruptcy. A triggering event can have a ripple effect forcing people out of work and economies into recession effectively putting more people out of work. No person and no economy is immune.
If you own a mutual fund, chances are your fund is un-hedged. Until recently, mutual fund legislation prevented mutual funds from hedging. Many jurisdictions have repealed this rule however mutual fund managers have been slow or decided to continue with "business as usual". The reason is that most investors of mutual funds are unsophisticated and do not understand the hedging process and may re-deem their money from an investment strategy they do not understand.
Hedge funds on the other hand do not have these restraints. Investors are more sophisticated and are more open to the nature of hedge fund strategies. Some of which are not disclosed due to a fear of piracy by competing hedge fund managers.
Risk reduction solutions are not complicated but do require the services of a professional who understands the process. This is the role of a Commodity Trading Advisor, also known as a CTA. While most CTA's are hedge fund managers, few specialize in risk management analytics. The focus of a risk manager is on the analysis of solutions to reduce or eliminate market and / or operational risk. No matter the role, all Commodity Trading Advisors are specialists in the derivatives market.
The first step is the value at risk calculation to determine a funds risk liability. A risk mitigation strategy known as a hedge is then implemented. After all, identification of one's risk is only beneficial if a solution to off-set that risk is put into place. Hedging requires the use of derivatives, either exchange traded or over-the-counter. These can take many forms. The most commonly used hedging instruments are index futures, interest rate futures, foreign exchange, exchange traded commodities such as Crude Oil, options and SWAPS.
A more detailed explanation of derivatives and hedging will be discussed in our next article. Now that we've identified an easy solution for your market risk worries, the implementation of the right strategy can be as easy as a call to a qualified and registered Commodity Trading Advisor.
Dwayne Strocen is a registered Commodity Trading Advisor specializing in analyzing and hedging Market and Operational Risk using exchange traded and OTC derivatives. Website: http://www.genuineCTA.com.
View more detailed information about Risk Management and Foreign Exchange Trading.
The first of a two part article
Fund managers, whether they be equity or bond traders, know all too well that returns are not simply a result of their asset selection prowess. Many external factors come into play. But what are the issues facing the professional money manager. Management of risk is one of the most important, and not all fund managers analyze their market risk. This is often explained as a lack of education and a failure to understand the mitigating solutions for off-setting risk.
Market risk is defined as "the unexpected financial loss following a market decline due to events out of your control." Stock or bond market volatility or market reversals can be the result of global events happening in far flung corners of the globe. Top analysts and fund managers simply do not have the resources to crystal ball gaze and predict those events.
Examples of several major unexpected events that sent shock waves throughout the financial community have been:
- 1982 Mexican Peso devaluation;
- 1987 stock market crash knows as "Black Monday";
- 1989 USA Savings and Loan Crisis;
- 1998 Russian Ruble devaluation;
- 1998 $125 billion collapse of Hedge Fund Long Term Capital Management;
- 2006 collapse of Hedge Fund Amaranth with losses of $5.85 billion.
In 1994 Bank J.P. Morgan developed a risk metrics model known as Value-At-Risk or VaR. While VaR is considered the industry standard of risk measurement, it has its drawbacks. VaR can measure total dollar value of a funds risk exposure within a certain level of confidence, usually 95 or 99 percent. What it cannot do, is predict when a triggering event will occur or the magnitude of the subsequent fallout. For some company's and funds, a steep decline or protracted recession can be devastating. Even forcing some un-hedged firms into bankruptcy. A triggering event can have a ripple effect forcing people out of work and economies into recession effectively putting more people out of work. No person and no economy is immune.
If you own a mutual fund, chances are your fund is un-hedged. Until recently, mutual fund legislation prevented mutual funds from hedging. Many jurisdictions have repealed this rule however mutual fund managers have been slow or decided to continue with "business as usual". The reason is that most investors of mutual funds are unsophisticated and do not understand the hedging process and may re-deem their money from an investment strategy they do not understand.
Hedge funds on the other hand do not have these restraints. Investors are more sophisticated and are more open to the nature of hedge fund strategies. Some of which are not disclosed due to a fear of piracy by competing hedge fund managers.
Risk reduction solutions are not complicated but do require the services of a professional who understands the process. This is the role of a Commodity Trading Advisor, also known as a CTA. While most CTA's are hedge fund managers, few specialize in risk management analytics. The focus of a risk manager is on the analysis of solutions to reduce or eliminate market and / or operational risk. No matter the role, all Commodity Trading Advisors are specialists in the derivatives market.
The first step is the value at risk calculation to determine a funds risk liability. A risk mitigation strategy known as a hedge is then implemented. After all, identification of one's risk is only beneficial if a solution to off-set that risk is put into place. Hedging requires the use of derivatives, either exchange traded or over-the-counter. These can take many forms. The most commonly used hedging instruments are index futures, interest rate futures, foreign exchange, exchange traded commodities such as Crude Oil, options and SWAPS.
A more detailed explanation of derivatives and hedging will be discussed in our next article. Now that we've identified an easy solution for your market risk worries, the implementation of the right strategy can be as easy as a call to a qualified and registered Commodity Trading Advisor.
Dwayne Strocen is a registered Commodity Trading Advisor specializing in analyzing and hedging Market and Operational Risk using exchange traded and OTC derivatives. Website: http://www.genuineCTA.com.
View more detailed information about Risk Management and Foreign Exchange Trading.
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