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27th April 2011

12:01am: Comparing various futures programs
Investing is a tough game and there are lots of possible choices.

You are probably familiar with the way mutual funds operate, but may not realize there is also a way you can invest in commodity futures markets through a passive, hands-off approach-via a managed futures account.

There are loads of choices available when it comes to managed futures. Managed futures, as the name suggests, are global futures and options that are professionally managed. Managed futures accounts are becoming increasingly popular with corporate, institutional and individual investors. They are becoming less of an "alternative investment" platform.

The benefits of managed futures in the usa are numerous and obvious. Managed futures have consistently shown an ability to reduce the volatility of an investment portfolio. There are significant number of studies that indicate that managed futures have almost no correlation with stock prices. It's extremely important because investments that are correlated and profit and loss simultaneously are not actually diversified. As uncorrelated at they come, managed futures are not generally tied to other asset classes. One way to compare risk is to measure the magnitude of the worst cumulative loss in value of an investment from any peak in performance to the subsequent low. Managed futures have significantly lower drawdowns than the S&P 500®, the NASDAQ®, and the MSCI® Europe, Australasia, and Far East (EAFE®) Index .Programs around the globe can all be used for a managed futures investment. Pricing trends can be capitalized on by trading advisors. They can buy futures positions in anticipation of a rising market or sell futures positions if they anticipate a falling market.

In a declining market, futures can profit by selling or closing out a position at a lower price. Neutral markets even have their own set of nuances that can be profited from Last year 14% was the average return by the Barclay CTA index which was 51% higher than the stock market. In fact, the Barclay CTA Index has gained an annual average of 12.2% since 1980 and lost money in only three of those calendar years. The returns rival that of stocks with the added benefit of being uncorrelated.

Be mindful that the costs can hit 6% to 8% annually but the returns are reported after fees. In the distant past, traders who didn't want the responsibility and upkeep were the key investors but that is no longer the case. Risk and diversification are major concerns in today's market environment --- along with, of course, yield. A number of studies indicate that a portfolio that includes managed futures can yield appreciably higher and more stable return over time than a portfolio that includes only stocks and bonds. Without the serious risks, evidence indicates that the results can be achieved.

Managed futures are not appropriate for everyone.
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