Futures Strategic Trust 10-Q 2004 Q1 Quarterly report

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                                                                   to                                                                   

Commission file number: 0-23885

PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES STRATEGIC TRUST

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	13-7075398
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
One New York Plaza, 13th Floor, New York, New York	10292
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (212) 778-1000

N/A

Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report

Indicate by checkÖ 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  Ö  No     

Indicate by checkÖ whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).  Yes       No  Ö

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM I. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES STRATEGIC TRUST

(a Delaware Business Trust)

STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(Unaudited)

	March 31, 2004		December 31, 2003
ASSETS
Cash in commodity trading accounts	$	7,862,459	$	7,969,620
Net unrealized gain on open futures contracts		460,255		274,531
Other receivables		1,479		2,222
Total assets		8,324,193		8,246,373
LIABILITIES AND TRUST CAPITAL
Liabilities
Redemptions payable	$	64,605	$	86,425
Incentive fees payable		97,451		9,826
Management fees payable		10,171		9,868
Accounts payable		401		191
Net unrealized loss on open forward contracts		—		416
Total liabilities		172,628		106,726
Commitments
Trust capital
Limited interests (75,735.339 and 78,447.463 interests outstanding)		8,069,974		8,058,219
General interests (766 and 793 interests outstanding)		81,591		81,428
Total trust capital		8,151,565		8,139,647
Total liabilities and trust capital	$	8,324,193	$	8,246,373
Net asset value per limited and general interest	$	106.55	$	102.72

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

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PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES STRATEGIC TRUST

(a Delaware Business Trust)

CONDENSED SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS

(Unaudited)

	March 31, 2004					December 31, 2003
Futures and Forward Contracts	Net Unrealized Gain (Loss) as a % of Trust Capital		Net Unrealized Gain (Loss)			Net Unrealized Gain (Loss) as a % of Trust Capital		Net Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Futures contracts purchased:
Stock indices			$	21,113				$	—
Interest rates				208,445					228,064
Currencies				210,997					131,469
Commodities				172,016					316,639
Net unrealized gain on futures contracts purchased	7.52	%		612,571		8.30	%		676,172
Futures contracts sold:
Stock indices			$	(240	)			$	—
Interest rates				(69,096	)				(166,195	)
Currencies				(1,045	)				(45,127	)
Commodities				(81,935	)				(190,319	)
Net unrealized loss on futures contracts sold	(1.87	)		(152,316	)	(4.93	)		(401,641	)
Net unrealized gain on futures contracts	5.65	%	$	460,255		3.37	%	$	274,531
Forward currency contracts purchased	—	%	$	—		(0.01	)%	$	(416	)
Net unrealized loss on forward contracts	—	%	$	—		(0.01	)%	$	(416	)
Settlement Currency—Futures Contracts
Australian dollar	0.17	%	$	14,080		(0.11	)%	$	(8,880	)
British pound	(0.11	)		(9,349	)	(1.03	)		(83,696	)
Canadian dollar	0.08			6,190		0.22			17,721
Euro	1.27			103,375		1.34			109,320
Japanese Yen	0.62			50,473		(0.04	)		(2,976	)
Swedish krona	(0.04	)		(3,062	)	(0.04	)		(3,141	)
Swiss franc	0.21			17,363		(0.06	)		(4,688	)
U.S. dollar	3.45			281,185		3.09			250,871
Total	5.65	%	$	460,255		3.37	%	$	274,531
Settlement Currency—Forward Contracts
Canadian dollar	—	%	$	—		(0.01	)%	$	(416	)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

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PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES STRATEGIC TRUST

(a Delaware Business Trust)

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

	Three months ended March 31,
	2004		2003
REVENUES
Net realized gain on commodity transactions	$	360,574	$	401,781
Change in net unrealized gain/loss on open commodity positions		186,140		(139,087	)
Interest income		21,249		27,878
		567,963		290,572
EXPENSES
Commissions		151,632		154,427
Incentive fees		88,024		—
Management fees		30,188		25,304
		269,844		179,731
Net income	$	298,119	$	110,841
ALLOCATION OF NET INCOME
Limited interests	$	295,135	$	109,724
General interests	$	2,984	$	1,117
NET INCOME PER WEIGHTED AVERAGE LIMITED AND GENERAL INTERESTS
Net income per weighted average limited and general interests	$	3.83	$	1.16
Weighted average number of limited and general interests outstanding		77,798		95,191

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN TRUST CAPITAL

(Unaudited)

	INTERESTS		LIMITED INTERESTS			GENERAL INTERESTS			TOTAL
Trust capital—December 31, 2003	79,240.463		$	8,058,219		$	81,428		$	8,139,647
Net income				295,135			2,984			298,119
Redemptions	(2,739.124	)		(283,380	)		(2,821	)		(286,201	)
Trust capital—March 31, 2004	76,501.339		$	8,069,974		$	81,591		$	8,151,565

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

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PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES STRATEGIC TRUST

(a Delaware Business Trust)

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MARCH 31, 2004

(Unaudited)

A. General

These financial statements have been prepared without audit. In the opinion of Prudential Securities Futures Management Inc. (the “Managing Owner”), the financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to state fairly the financial position of Prudential Securities Strategic Trust (the “Trust”) as of March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 and the results of its operations for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003. However, the operating results for the interim periods may not be indicative of the results expected for the full year.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been omitted. It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2003.

On July 1, 2003, Prudential Financial, Inc. (“Prudential”) and Wachovia Corp. (“Wachovia”) combined their separate retail securities brokerage and clearing businesses under a new holding company named Wachovia/Prudential Financial Advisors, LLC (“WPFA”), owned 62% by Wachovia and 38% by Prudential. As a result, the retail brokerage operations of Prudential Securities Incorporated (“PSI”) were contributed to Wachovia Securities, LLC (“Wachovia Securities”). Wachovia Securities is wholly-owned by WPFA and is a registered broker-dealer and a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) and all major securities exchanges. The Trust and its managing owner, Prudential Securities Futures Management Inc., entered into a service agreement with Wachovia Securities, effective July 1, 2003. Pursuant to this agreement, Wachovia Securities agrees to provide certain enumerated services to accounts of the limited interest owners carried at Wachovia. Effective July 1, 2003, PSI changed its name to Prudential Equity Group, Inc. Effective February 2, 2004, Prudential Equity Group Inc. was converted to a limited liability company named Prudential Equity Group LLC (“PEG”). PEG remains an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential. PEG was a registered broker-dealer and a member of the NASD and all major securities exchanges and conducted the equity research, domestic and international equity sales and trading operations, and commodity brokerage and derivative operations it had previously conducted as PSI until December 31, 2003. As part of the process of reorganizing its business structure, Prudential Securities Group Inc. (“PSG”), the direct parent of PEG and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential, transferred the commodity brokerage, commodity clearing and derivative operations previously performed by PEG to another PSG indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Prudential Financial Derivatives, LLC (“PFD”) effective January 1, 2004. PFD is registered as a futures commission merchant under the Commodity Exchange Act and is a member of the National Futures Association.

As of January 31, 2003 Gamma was terminated as a trading manager to the Trust. On February 11, 2003 the Managing Owner and the Trust entered into an advisory agreement with Graham Capital Management, L.P. (“Graham”) to manage a portion of the Trust’s assets. Pursuant to the advisory agreement, Graham is to be paid a monthly management fee equal to ¹/6 of 1% (approximately 2% annually) and an incentive fee of 20% of the “New High Net Trading Profits” on the portion of Trust assets allocated to Graham, the same as was paid to Gamma. Graham does not have to recoup Gamma’s cumulative trading losses before earning any incentive fees. The Trust did not incur commissions and management fees from the period February 1, 2003 to February 13, 2003 on the portion of assets unallocated to trading (i.e. the portion of assets previously managed by Gamma). The advisory agreement may be terminated for a variety of reasons, including at the discretion of the Managing Owner.

B. Related Parties

The Managing Owner is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PEG, which, in turn, is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential. The Managing Owner or its affiliates perform services for the Trust, which include, but are not limited to: brokerage services; accounting and financial management; registrar, transfer and

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assignment functions; investor communications; printing and other administrative services. Except for costs related to brokerage services, PEG or its affiliates bear the costs of these services, as well as the Trust’s routine operational, administrative, legal and auditing costs, and costs paid to organize the Trust and offer its Interests.

The costs charged to the Trust for brokerage services for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 were $151,632 and $154,427, respectively.

The Trust’s assets are maintained either in trading or cash accounts at PFD or, for margin purposes, with the various exchanges on which the Trust is permitted to trade. PFD credits the Trust monthly with 80% of the interest it earns on the average net assets in the Trust’s accounts and retains the remaining 20%.

The Trust, acting through its trading managers, executes over-the-counter, spot, forward and/or option foreign exchange transactions with PFD. PFD then engages in back-to-back trading with an affiliate, Prudential-Bache Global Markets, Inc. (“PBGM”). PBGM attempts to earn a profit on such transactions. PBGM keeps its prices on foreign currency competitive with other interbank currency trading desks. All over-the-counter currency transactions are conducted between PFD and PBGM pursuant to a line of credit. PFD may require that collateral be posted against the marked-to-market position of the Trust.

As of March 31, 2004, a non-U.S. affiliate of the Managing Owner owned 116.497 limited interests of the Trust.

C. Derivative Instruments and Associated Risks

The Trust is exposed to various types of risks associated with the derivative instruments and related markets in which it invests. These risk include, but are not limited to, risk of loss from fluctuations in the value of derivative instruments held (market risk) and the inability of counterparties to perform under the terms of the Trust’s investment activities (credit risk).

Market Risk

Trading in futures and forward contracts (including foreign exchange) involves entering into contractual commitments to purchase or sell a particular commodity at a specified date and price. The gross or face amount of the contracts, which is typically many times that of the Trust’s net assets being traded, significantly exceeds the Trust’s future cash requirements since the Trust intends to close out its open positions prior to settlement. As a result, the Trust is generally subject only to the risk of loss arising from the change in the value of the contracts. As such, the Trust considers the “fair value” of its futures and forwards to be the net unrealized gain or loss on the contracts. The market risk associated with the Trust’s commitments to purchase commodities is limited to the gross or face amount of the contracts held. However, when the Trust enters into a contractual commitment to sell commodities, it must make delivery of the underlying commodity at the contract price and then repurchase the contract at prevailing market prices or settle in cash. Since the repurchase price to which a commodity can rise is unlimited, entering into commitments to sell commodities exposes the Trust to unlimited risk.

Market risk is influenced by a wide variety of factors, including government programs and policies, political and economic events, the level and volatility of interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, the diversification effects among the derivative instruments the Trust holds and the liquidity and inherent volatility of the markets in which the Trust trades.

Credit Risk

When entering into futures and forward contracts, the Trust is exposed to credit risk that the counterparty to the contract will not meet its obligations. The counterparty for futures contracts traded on United States and most foreign futures exchanges is the clearinghouse associated with the particular exchange. In general, clearinghouses are backed by their corporate members who are required to share any financial burden resulting from the non-performance by one of their members and, as such, should significantly reduce this credit risk. In cases where the clearinghouse is not backed by the clearing members (i.e., some foreign exchanges), it is normally backed by a consortium of banks or other financial institutions. On the other hand, there is concentration risk on forward transactions entered into by the Trust as PFD, the Trust’s commodity broker, is the sole counterparty. The Trust has entered into a master netting agreement with PFD and, as a result, when applicable, presents unrealized gains and losses on open forward positions as a net amount in the statements of financial condition. The amount at risk

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associated with counterparty non-performance of all of the Trust’s contracts is the net unrealized gain included in the statements of financial condition; however, counterparty nonperformance on only certain of the Trust’s contracts may result in greater loss than nonperformance on all of the Trust’s contracts. There can be no assurance that any counterparty, clearing member or clearinghouse will meet its obligations to the Trust.

The Managing Owner attempts to minimize both credit and market risks by requiring the Trust and its trading managers to abide by various trading limitations and policies. The Managing Owner monitors compliance with these trading limitations and policies which, include, but are not limited to, executing and clearing all trades with creditworthy counterparties; limiting the amount of margin or premium required for any one commodity or all commodities combined; and generally limiting transactions to contracts which are traded in sufficient volume to permit the taking and liquidating of positions. Additionally, pursuant to the advisory agreements among the Trust, the Managing Owner and each trading manager, the Trust shall automatically terminate a trading manager if the net asset value allocated to that trading manager declines by 33 ¹/3% from the value at the beginning of any year or since the initial allocation of assets to that trading manager. Furthermore, the Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement provides that the Trust will liquidate its positions, and eventually dissolve, if the Trust experiences a decline in the net asset value of 50% from the value at the beginning of any year or since the commencement of trading activities. In each case, the decline in net asset value is after giving effect for distributions and redemptions. The Managing Owner may impose additional restrictions (through modifications of trading limitations and policies) upon the trading activities of the trading managers as it, in good faith, deems to be in the best interest of the Trust.

PFD, when acting as the Trust’s futures commission merchant in accepting orders for the purchase or sale of domestic futures contracts, is required by Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) regulations to separately account for and segregate as belonging to the Trust all assets of the Trust relating to domestic futures trading and is not allowed to commingle such assets with other assets of PFD. At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, such segregated assets totalled $2,878,093 and $2,989,530, respectively. Part 30.7 of the CFTC regulations also requires PFD to secure assets of the Trust related to foreign futures trading, which totalled $5,444,621 and $5,254,623 at March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively. There are no segregation requirements for assets related to forward trading.

As of March 31, 2004, all of the Trust’s open futures and forward contracts mature within 18 months.

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D. Financial Highlights

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2004			Three Months Ended March 31, 2003
Performance per Interest
Net asset value, beginning of period	$	102.72		$	87.29
Net realized gain and change in net unrealized gain/loss on commodity transactions		7.01			2.47
Interest income		.27			.29
Expenses		(3.45	)		(1.89	)
Net increase for the period		3.83			.87
Net asset value, end of period	$	106.55		$	88.16
Total return (non-annualized):
Total return before incentive fees		4.82	%		1.00	%
Incentive fees		(1.09	)		—
Total return after incentive fees		3.73	%		1.00	%
Ratios to average net assets (annualized):
Net investment loss before incentive fees**		(7.92	)%		(7.04	)%
Incentive fees		(4.35	)		—
Net investment loss after incentive fees		(12.27	)%		(7.04	)%
Interest income		1.05	%		1.29	%
Expenses before incentive fees		8.97	%		8.33	%
Incentive fees		4.35			—
Total expenses after incentive fees		13.32	%		8.33	%

** Represents interest income less total expenses (exclusive of incentive fees). The Managing Owner believes that the disclosure of the ratio of net investment loss to average net assets as required under the AICPA Audit Guide For Investment Companies is not a meaningful or appropriate measure for the Trust as it is not a portfolio designed to return investment income. The Managing Owner believes that the total return ratio is the appropriate ratio as it also considers the Trust’s commodity trading gains/losses.

These financial highlights represent the overall results of the Trust for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003. An individual limited owner’s actual results may differ depending on the timing of redemptions.

E. Subsequent Event

On April 1, 2004, PEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of PSG, transferred the ownership of Prudential Securities Futures Management Inc. and PFDS Holdings LLC, the direct parent of PFD, to PSG.

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PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES STRATEGIC TRUST

(a Delaware Business Trust)

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL

CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Critical Accounting Policies

Preparation of the financial statements and related disclosures in compliance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the application of appropriate accounting rules and guidance, as well as the use of estimates. The Trust’s application of these policies involves judgments and actual results may differ from the estimates used.

The Managing Owner has evaluated the nature and types of estimates that it makes in preparing the Trust’s financial statements and related disclosures and has determined that the valuation of its investments which are not traded on a United States or Internationally recognized futures exchange involves a critical accounting policy. The values used by the Trust for open forward positions are provided by its commodity broker, PFD, who uses market prices when available, while over-the-counter derivative financial instruments, principally forwards, options and swaps are valued based on the present value of estimated future cash flows that would be received from or paid to a third party in settlement of these derivative contracts prior to their delivery date.

As such, if actual results vary from estimates used, they are anticipated to not have a material impact on the financial statements and related disclosures.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Trust commenced operations on May 1, 1996 with gross proceeds of $12,686,200 allocated to commodities trading. Additional Interests were offered monthly at the then current net asset value per Interest until the continuous offering period expired on January 31, 1998. Additional contributions made during the continuous offering period totalled $51,242,700 including $375,000 of contributions from the Managing Owner.

The Trust Agreement provides that an interest holder may redeem its interests as of the last day of any month at the then current net asset value per Interest. Redemptions of limited interests and general interests for the three months ended March 31, 2004 were $283,380 and $2,821 respectively. Redemptions of limited interests and general interests from May 1, 1996 (commencement of operations), through March 31, 2004 were $55,332,721 and $447,182, respectively. Future redemptions will impact the amount of funds available for investment in commodity contracts in subsequent periods.

At March 31, 2004, 100% of the Trust’s net assets were allocated to commodities trading. A significant portion of the net assets of the Trust are held in cash, which is used as margin for the Trust’s trading in commodities. Inasmuch as the sole business of the Trust is to trade in commodities, the Trust continues to own such liquid assets to be used as margin. PFD credits the Trust monthly with 80% of the interest it earns on the average net assets in these accounts and retains the remaining 20%.

The commodities contracts are subject to periods of illiquidity because of market conditions, regulatory considerations and other reasons. For example, some commodity exchanges limit fluctuations in commodity futures contract prices during a single day by regulations referred to as “daily limits.” During a single day, no trades may be executed at prices beyond the daily limit. Once the price of a futures contract for a particular commodity has increased or decreased by an amount equal to the daily limit, positions in the commodity can neither be taken nor liquidated unless traders are willing to effect trades at or within the limit. Commodity futures prices have occasionally moved the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading. Such market conditions could prevent the Trust from promptly liquidating its commodity futures positions.

Since the Trust’s business is to trade futures and forward contracts, its capital is at risk due to changes in the value of these contracts (market risk) or the inability of counterparties to perform under the terms of the contracts (credit risk). The Trust’s exposure to market risk is influenced by a number of factors, including the volatility on interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, the liquidity of the markets in which the contracts are traded and the relationships among the contracts held. The inherent uncertainty of the Trust’s speculative trading, as well as the development of drastic market occurrences, could result in

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monthly losses considerably beyond the Trust’s experience to date and could ultimately lead to a loss of all or substantially all of investors’ capital. The Managing Owner attempts to minimize these risks by requiring the Trust’s trading managers to abide by various trading limitations and policies, which include limiting margin amounts, trading only in liquid markets and permitting the use of stop loss provisions. See Note C to the financial statements for a further discussion of the credit and market risks associated with the Trust’s futures and forward contracts.

The Trust does not have, nor does it expect to have, any capital assets.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

As of March 31, 2004, the Trust had not utilized special purpose entries to facilitate off-balance sheet financing arrangements and has no loan guarantee arrangements or off-balance sheet arrangements of any kind other than agreements entered into in the normal course of business which may include indemnification provisions related to certain risks services providers, such as our accountants, undertake in performing services which are in the best interests of the Trust. While the Trust’s exposure under such indemnification provisions can not be estimated, these general business indemnifications are not expected to have a material impact on the Trust’s financial position.

The Trust’s contractual obligations are with the Trading Advisor and its commodity broker. Payments made under the Trust’s agreement with the Trading Advisor are at a fixed rate, calculated as a percentage of the Trust’s “New High Net Trading Profits”. Management fee payments made to the Trading Advisor and commission payments to the commodity broker are calculated as a fixed percentage of the Trust’s net asset values (“NAV’s”). As such, the Managing Owner cannot anticipate the amount of payments that will be required under these agreements for future periods as NAV’s are not known until a future date. These agreements are effective for one-year terms, renewable automatically for additional one-year terms unless terminated. Additionally, these agreements may be terminated by either party for various reasons. For a further discussion on these payments, see Notes A & C of the Trust’s 2003 Annual Report.

Results of Operations

The net asset value per interest as of March 31, 2004 was $106.55, an increase of 3.73% from the December 31, 2003 net asset value per Interest of $102.72. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

The Trust’s gross trading gains were $547,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared to trading gains of $263,000 for the corresponding period in the prior year. Due to the nature of the Trust’s trading activities, a period to period comparison of its trading results is not meaningful. However, a detailed discussion of the Trust’s current quarter trading results is presented below.

Quarterly Market Overview

U.S. economic activity in the first quarter of 2004 was marked by fluctuating trends and continued, albeit slower, growth than in 2003. Levels of productivity, output, inflation, resource use and core consumer prices remained steady throughout the quarter. In manufacturing, durable goods orders declined in January but advanced 2.5% in February as demand for aircraft soared. Although the pace of activity remained strong, housing starts declined throughout the quarter while sales of new and old homes fell in January and rebounded in February due to historically low interest rate levels. Corporate spending and profits as well as personal spending and income grew steadily. Consumer confidence surged in January, fell sharply in February and declined slightly to a five-month low in March based upon the specter of rising interest rates and a weak labor market coupled with concerns about economic growth sustainability, geopolitical tension, record federal twin deficits, high consumer debt, and rising oil prices. Hiring remained subdued for the first two months of 2004 and reversed in March when non-farm payroll increased by a record 308,000, the fastest pace in nearly four years and nearly triple expectations. Despite the gain, the unemployment rate rose to 5.7% in March, up from 5.6% in January and February.

The global economic outlook remained positive with modest growth in the first three months of 2004. In Europe, meager gains from returns in financial and technology sectors as well as a rebound in the U.S. dollar against the euro towards the end of the quarter, overcame losses from the depressed auto and chemical sectors and uncertainty from heightened geopolitical risk. The March 11 train bombings in Madrid and Israel’s assassination of Hamas leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin rattled Europe with tremors extending

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throughout the rest of the world. Notwithstanding an outbreak of avian influenza, impeachment of South Korea’s president and the shooting of Taiwan’s president, Asian economies, especially Japan, China, South Korea, India and Thailand exhibited continued growth. Political scandal, terrorism concerns, and inflation affected Latin American economies.

Indices: The U.S. equity markets continued where they ended in 2003, the fundamentals of the economy had not changed and the combination of stronger growth and corporate profits led to gains. However, as the quarter progressed, investor fears of the sustainability of higher growth created choppy markets. Of the three major U.S. equity market indices (Dow Jones Industrial Average—“DJIA”, S&P 500, and NASDAQ Composite), only the S&P 500 finished the first quarter in the black with a gain of 1.3%. The DJIA ended a run of three consecutive quarterly gains with a decline of 0.92%. At the same time, the NASDAQ Composite broke its string of five straight quarterly increases by sliding 0.5%. Globally, with signs of slow economic growth in the European Union and a strong Euro holding down exports, European equity indices ended the quarter down. On the other hand, Japan continued its economic rebound with the Nikkei 225 gaining 9.73%. The rally in Japan was partly supported by a trade surplus in February. In Latin America, geopolitical risk and inflation worries weighed down on the Brazilian benchmark Bovespa Index.

Interest rates: The first quarter was a roller coaster ride for bond investors with sharp reversals based on economic news. In January, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) announced that they had moved the probability of change in their accommodative policy from a “considerable period” to a stance of “being patient in removing policy accommodation.” The market reacted quickly with falling bond prices to the change in wording from the Fed on fears of rising interest rates. Then fears of an interest rate hike subsided when the Department of Labor reported February payroll employment numbers were below estimates resulting in a sharp downtick in yields. Bond prices fell again when the March payroll employment number beat estimates when it increased by 308,000. Overall, U.S. government bonds rallied in the first quarter because the market was more focused on low inflation and expected slower growth. The European Central Bank maintained its rate of 2.0% in its meeting in March, rejecting calls from politicians including German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin for lower borrowing costs. European bonds ended the quarter up.

Currencies: With no change in the fundamentals of the current account or fiscal deficit, the dollar was expected to continue to decline in the first quarter of 2004. The U.S. federal government projected a record setting budget deficit of $477 billion for this year and the current account deficit was projected to be 5% of the U.S. gross domestic product. However, strong growth in the U.S. relative to other countries helped lift the U.S. dollar over foreign currencies. The latest global forecast from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) indicated the economic performance in Europe would improve but at a lower rate than the United States which supported the euro’s depreciation of 1.9% against the U.S. dollar this quarter. However, the Japanese yen reached a three-year high on February 11^th when it closed at 105.20 per U.S. dollar. To curb the yen from appreciating further against the U.S. dollar, the Bank of Japan continued selling the yen in the first quarter of 2004 after selling an annual record of 20.4 trillion yen in 2003. Even with the efforts of the Bank of Japan, the yen appreciated 2.8% against the U.S. dollar.

Energies: Energy prices for the first quarter continued to experience volatility with upward trends. Despite increased prices, world demand remained. Record low U.S. crude oil inventories, unplanned shutdowns, increased geopolitical risk in countries with large oil reserves, and talks of a cut in production from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) helped to sustain elevated prices. The crude oil index, a basket of goods, used by OPEC to gauge price had been trading above the targeted range between $22 and $28 barrel since December 2, 2003.

Metals: Metal prices continued to surge on the back of strong world demand. China stood out as the leading consumer of copper and other industrial metals as its economy continued to grow. Copper hit a six-year high and tin hit an eight and one half year high during the quarter. While base metals pushed toward near highs, precious metals were mixed. Silver saw strong moves not seen since the mid-1990s due to increased demand. Although gold prices rose when Al-Qaeda was purported to be linked to the Madrid train bombings, the dampening effect of a lack of clear signs of inflation dominated the downward price movement in the quarter.

Grains: Strong growth and thus demand, especially in developing countries, caused grain exports to skyrocket and inventories to fall. Coupled with unresolved drought conditions in the U.S., Midwest grain

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prices marched higher during the first quarter. In particular, corn prices continued a strong upward trend after supply estimates were revised downward for 2004. Also, soybean hit a 15-year high, trading at above $10/bushel driving the quarter. Fears of a smaller soybean crop and a delayed harvest in Brazil from wet weather kept supplies off the world market and pushed prices higher.

Softs: After strong gains in 2003, reversals of 6% in January and 16% in March occurred in cotton prices at the beginning of 2004. On the other hand, coffee prices gained 13.5% during the quarter largely because of a reduced harvest and lower expectations as to the size of the crop in Brazil. Sugar prices continued to fall as a result of global sugar surplus.

Quarterly Trust Performance

The following is a summary of performance for the major sectors in which the Trust traded:

Interest Rates (+): Bond prices rallied due to slower economic growth, low inflation, and the Fed holding rates at 46-year lows. Long positions in the European bonds netted gains while short positions in the U.S. Treasury 10-year note resulted in losses.

Metals (+): Strong demand resulted in continued upward trends in industrial metals and silver. Long copper, aluminum, and zinc positions ended the quarter in net gains.

Grains (+): Unresolved drought conditions in the U.S. Midwest decreased corn supplies, while wet weather in Brazil decreased soybean production. Long soybean and corn positions resulted in net gains.

Energies (+): World demand for energies remained robust and the threat of cut in production from OPEC drove up prices. Long positions in light and long positions in unleaded gas created net gains.

Indices (+): The Japanese equity indices gained momentum because of the continued economy recovery fueled by exports. Long positions in the Spanish IBEX 35, Mini-S&P, and Japanese Nikkei Dow indices resulted in net gains.

Currencies (+): Net gains resulted from short positions in the Aussie dollar because of the strengthening U.S. dollar. Intervention from the Bank of Japan to halt appreciation of yen created choppy market conditions, however, net gains resulted from a combination of long and short positions.

Softs (–): Falling sugar prices from a large 2003 surplus resulted in net losses in long positions. A smaller than expected harvest of cocoa in Brazil lifted prices which resulted in a net loss in short cocoa positions.

Decreases in the overall average net asset levels of the Trust have led to corresponding decreases in interest earned, as well as commissions incurred by the Trust, which are largely based on the level of net assets. The Trust’s average net asset levels were lower during the three months ended March 31, 2004 as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year, primarily due to redemptions.

Interest income is earned on the equity balances held at PFD and, therefore, varies monthly according to interest rates, trading performance and redemptions. Interest income decreased by $7,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004 as compared to the corresponding period in 2003. This decrease was primarily due to lower interest rates during the first quarter of 2004 as compared to the first quarter of 2003, as well as the decline in average net asset levels as discussed above.

Commissions are calculated on the Trust’s net asset value at the beginning of each month and, therefore, vary according to trading performance and redemptions. Commissions decreased by $3,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004 as compared to the corresponding period in 2003. This decrease was due to the decline in average net asset levels as discussed above and, to a lesser extent, the change in trading advisors as discussed further in Note A.

Prior to January 31, 2003, all trading decisions were made by Bridgewater Associates, Inc. and Gamma Capital Management, LLC (“Gamma”). Gamma was terminated as a trading advisor to the Trust on January 31, 2003 and replaced with Graham Capital Management, L.P. on February 11, 2003. Management fees are calculated on the net asset value allocated to each trading manager at the end of each month and, therefore, are affected by trading performance and redemptions. Management fees increased by $5,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004 as compared to the corresponding period in 2003. This increase was primarily due to the change in trading advisors as discussed further in Note A, offset in part by the decline in average net asset levels as discussed above.

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Incentive fees are based on the “New High Net Trading Profits” generated by each trading manager, as defined in the advisory agreements among the Trust, the Managing Owner and each trading manager. An incentive fee of $88,000 was incurred for the three months ended March 31, 2004. No incentive fees were incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2003.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Information regarding quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk is not required pursuant to Item 305(e) of Regulation S-K.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Managing Owner carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the officers of the Managing Owner, including the Managing Owner’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, the Managing Owner’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

There have not been any changes in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) during the fiscal quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings—There are no material legal proceedings pending by or against the Trust or the Managing Owner
Item 2.	Changes in Securities—None
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities—None
Item 4.	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders—None
Item 5.	Other Information—None
Item 6.	Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K:
	(a)	Exhibits
		3.1   and   4.1—	Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of December 14, 1995 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to 4.1 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-80443)
		4.2—	Subscription Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-80443)
		4.3—	Request for Redemption (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-80443)
		10.1—	Consent to Assignment and Assumption of Brokerage Agreement, dated March 30, 2004, among Prudential Securities Strategic Trust, Prudential Equity Group, LLC and Prudential Financial Derivatives, LLC (filed herewith)
		31.1—	Certification pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 (filed herewith)
		31.2—	Certification pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 (filed herewith)
		32.1—	Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the SARBANES-OXLEY Act of 2002 (furnished herewith)
		32.2—	Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the SARBANES-OXLEY Act of 2002 (furnished herewith)
	(b)	Reports on Form 8-K—None

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SIGNATURES

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

PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES STRATEGIC TRUST
By:	Prudential Securities Futures Management Inc. A Delaware corporation, Managing Owner
	By: /s/ Ronald J. Ivans	Date: May 14, 2004
	Ronald J. Ivans Chief Financial Officer

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