| Derivative Instruments | 3. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The Derivatives and Hedging topic of the Codification requires qualitative disclosure about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements.
The Partnership’s market risk is influenced by a wide variety of factors, including the level and volatility of interest rates, exchange rates, equity price levels, the market value of financial instruments and contracts, the diversification effects among the Partnership’s open positions, and the liquidity of the markets in which it trades.
The Partnership engages in the speculative trading of futures and forward contracts on currencies, energies, grains, interest rates, livestock, metals, softs and stock indices. The following were the primary trading risk exposures of the Partnership at March 31, 2020 , by market sector:
Agricultural (grains, livestock and softs) – The Partnership’s primary exposure is to agricultural price movements which are often directly affected by severe or unexpected weather conditions as well as supply and demand factors.
Currencies – Exchange rate risk is a principal market exposure of the Partnership. The Partnership’s currency exposure is to exchange rate fluctuations, primarily fluctuations which disrupt the historical pricing relationships between different currencies and currency pairs. The fluctuations are influenced by interest rate changes, as well as political and general economic conditions. The Partnership trades in a large number of currencies, including cross-rates—e.g., positions between two currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
Energies – The Partnership’s primary energy market exposure is to gas and oil price movements often resulting from political developments in the oil producing countries and economic conditions worldwide. Energy prices are volatile and substantial profits and losses have been and are expected to continue to be experienced in this market.
Interest rates – Interest rate movements directly affect the price of the sovereign bond futures positions held by the Partnership and indirectly the value of its stock index and currency positions. Interest rate movements in one country, as well as relative interest rate movements between countries, may materially impact the Partnership’s profitability. The Partnership’s primary interest rate exposure is to interest rate fluctuations in countries or regions, including Australia, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the U.S. and the Eurozone. However, the Partnership also may take positions in futures contracts on the government debt of other nations. The General Partner anticipates that interest rates in these industrialized countries or areas, both long-term and short-term, will remain the primary interest rate market exposure of the Partnership for the foreseeable future.
Metals – The Partnership’s metals market exposure is to fluctuations in the price of aluminum, copper, gold, lead, nickel, platinum, silver, tin and zinc.
Stock indices – The Partnership’s equity exposure, through stock index futures, is to equity price risk in the major industrialized countries, as well as other countries.
The Derivatives and Hedging topic of the Codification requires entities to recognize in the Statements of Financial Condition all derivative contracts as assets or liabilities. Fair values of futures and forward currency contracts in a net asset position by counterparty are recorded in the Statements of Financial Condition as “Net unrealized appreciation on open futures and forward currency contracts.” Fair values of futures and forward currency contracts in a net liability position by counterparty are recorded in the Statements of Financial Condition as “Net unrealized depreciation on open futures and forward currency contracts.” The Partnership’s policy regarding fair value measurement is discussed in the Fair Value note, contained herein.
Since the derivatives held or sold by the Partnership are for speculative trading purposes, the derivative instruments are not designated as hedging instruments under the provisions of the Derivatives and Hedging guidance. Accordingly, all realized gains and losses, as well as any change in net unrealized gains or losses on open positions from the preceding period, are recognized as part of the Partnership’s trading gains and losses in the Statements of Operations.
The following tables present the fair value of open futures and forward currency contracts, held long or sold short, at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 . Fair value is presented on a gross basis even though the contracts are subject to master netting agreements and qualify for net presentation in the Statements of Financial Condition.
Fair Value of Futures and Forward Currency Contracts at March 31, 2020
Net Unrealized
Fair Value - Long Positions
Fair Value - Short Positions
Gain (Loss) on
Sector
Gains
Losses
Gains
Losses
Open Positions
Futures contracts:
Energies
$
-
$
-
$ 931,892
$ (55,137)
$ 876,755
Grains
81,318
(12,920)
528
(13,451)
55,475
Interest rates
862,548
(258,058)
-
-
604,490
Livestock
3,750
(1,130)
-
-
2,620
Metals
129,545
(1,493,292)
1,821,042
(101,812)
355,483
Softs
4,860
(4,250)
73,274
(3,303)
70,581
Stock indices
291,149
(24,597)
109,216
(59,466)
316,302
Total futures contracts
1,373,170
(1,794,247)
2,935,952
(233,169)
2,281,706
Forward currency contracts
1,930,809
(4,739,140)
6,515,667
(2,062,000)
1,645,336
Total futures and
forward currency contracts
$ 3,303,979
$ (6,533,387)
$ 9,451,619
$ (2,295,169)
$ 3,927,042
Fair Value of Futures and Forward Currency Contracts at December 31, 2019
Net Unrealized
Fair Value - Long Positions
Fair Value - Short Positions
Gain (Loss) on
Sector
Gains
Losses
Gains
Losses
Open Positions
Futures contracts:
Energies
$ 340,590
$ (106,604)
$ 79,540
$ (1,390)
$ 312,136
Grains
19,178
(2,420)
5,688
(210,225)
(187,779)
Interest rates
15,841
(74,086)
562,011
(109,203)
394,563
Livestock
-
(140)
-
-
(140)
Metals
643,619
(256,322)
286,283
(378,574)
295,006
Softs
15,605
(1,265)
6,852
(24,915)
(3,723)
Stock indices
360,698
(293,292)
250,607
(30,604)
287,409
Total futures contracts
1,395,531
(734,129)
1,190,981
(754,911)
1,097,472
Forward currency contracts
3,441,103
(547,890)
503,584
(4,592,861)
(1,196,064)
Total futures and
forward currency contracts
$ 4,836,634
$ (1,282,019)
$ 1,694,565
$ (5,347,772)
$ (98,592)
The effect of trading futures and forward currency contracts is represented on the Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 as “Net realized gains (losses) on closed positions: Futures and forward currency contracts” and “Net change in unrealized: Futures and forward currency contracts.” These trading gains and losses are detailed below.
Trading gains (losses) of futures and forward currency contracts for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019
Sector
Three months ended: March 31, 2020
Three months ended: March 31, 2019
Futures contracts:
Energies
$ 7,225,539
$ (3,290,498)
Grains
538,904
420,751
Interest rates
(2,494,946)
6,873,685
Livestock
284,010
(4,950)
Metals
(59,977)
(539,135)
Softs
1,534
65,006
Stock indices
(32,413,088)
719,686
Total futures contracts
(26,918,024)
4,244,545
Forward currency contracts
905,691
(1,678,879)
Total futures and
forward currency contracts
$ (26,012,333)
$ 2,565,666
The following table presents average notional value by sector of open futures and forward currency contracts for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 in U.S. dollars. The Partnership’s average net asset value for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was approximately $145,000,000 and $162,000,000 , respectively.
Average notional value by sector of futures and forward currency contracts for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019
2020
2019
Sector
Long positions
Short positions
Long positions
Short positions
Futures contracts:
Energies
$ 13,493,572
$ 8,451,385
$ 8,306,253
$ 23,567,196
Grains
1,962,864
5,938,694
3,417,256
9,120,410
Interest rates
100,109,094
108,167,176
271,415,198
97,171,043
Livestock
180,225
-
510,300
408,595
Metals
14,629,243
3,487,808
547,550
13,668,889
Softs
833,210
1,695,831
372,238
3,255,267
Stock indices
62,517,081
15,783,316
52,012,558
45,462,048
Total futures contracts
193,725,289
143,524,210
336,581,353
192,653,448
Forward currency contracts
15,884,893
40,802,386
22,157,493
82,948,064
Total futures and
forward currency contracts
$ 209,610,182
$ 184,326,596
$ 358,738,846
$ 275,601,512
Notional values in the interest rate sector were calculated by converting the notional value in local currency of open interest rate futures positions with maturities less than 10 years to 10 -year equivalent fixed income instruments and translated to U.S. dollars at March 31, 2020 and 2019 . The 10-year note is often used as a benchmark for many types of fixed-income instruments and the General Partner believes it is a more meaningful representation of notional values of the Partnership’s open interest rate positions.
The customer agreements between the Partnership, the futures clearing brokers, including Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG), SG Americas Securities, LLC., and BofA Securities, Inc. (formerly Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Inc.) as well as the FX prime brokers, Deutsche Bank AG (“DB”) and Bank of America, N.A. (“BA”), give the Partnership the legal right to net unrealized gains and losses on open futures and forward currency contracts. The Partnership netted, for financial reporting purposes, the unrealized gains and losses on open futures and forward currency contracts on the Statements of Financial Condition as the criteria under ASC 210-20, “ Balance Sheet ,” were met.
The following tables present gross amounts of assets or liabilities which qualify for offset as presented in the Statements of Financial Condition at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 .
Offsetting derivative assets and liabilities at March 31, 2020
Assets
Gross amounts of recognized assets
Gross amounts offset in the Statement of Financial Condition
Net amounts of assets presented in the Statement of Financial Condition
Futures contracts
Counterparty C
$ 885,328
$ (183,579)
$ 701,749
Counterparty I
2,799,749
(1,729,581)
1,070,168
Counterparty J
624,045
(114,256)
509,789
Total futures contracts
4,309,122
(2,027,416)
2,281,706
Forward currency contracts
Counterparty G
5,044,936
(3,251,863)
1,793,073
Total assets
$ 9,354,058
$ (5,279,279)
$ 4,074,779
Liabilities
Gross amounts of recognized liabilities
Gross amounts offset in the Statement of Financial Condition
Net amounts of liabilities presented in the Statement of Financial Condition
Forward currency contracts
Counterparty K
$ 3,549,277
$ (3,401,540)
$ 147,737
Total liabilities
$ 3,549,277
$ (3,401,540)
$ 147,737
Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Condition
Counterparty
Net amounts of Assets presented in the Statement of Financial Condition
Financial Instruments
Collateral Received (1)(2)
Net Amount (3)
Counterparty C
$ 701,749
$
-
$ (701,749)
$
-
Counterparty G
1,793,073
-
-
1,793,073
Counterparty I
1,070,168
-
(1,070,168)
-
Counterparty J
509,789
-
(509,789)
-
Total
$ 4,074,779
$
-
$ (2,281,706)
$ 1,793,073
Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Condition
Counterparty
Net amounts of Liabilities presented in the Statement of Financial Condition
Financial Instruments
Collateral Pledged (1)(2)
Net Amount (4)
Counterparty K
$ 147,737
$
-
$ (147,737)
$
-
Total
$ 147,737
$
-
$ (147,737)
$
-
(1) Collateral received includes trades made on exchanges. These trades are subject to central counterparty clearing where settlement is guaranteed
by the exchange. Collateral pledged includes both cash and U.S. Treasury notes held at each respective counterparty.
(2) Collateral disclosed is limited to an amount not to exceed 100% of the net amount of assets and liabilities presented in the Statement of
Financial Condition for each respective counterparty.
(3) Net amount represents the amount that is subject to loss in the event of a counterparty failure as of March 31, 2020.
(4) Net amount represents the amounts owed by the Partnership to each counterparty as of March 31, 2020.
Offsetting derivative assets and liabilities at December 31, 2019
Assets
Gross amounts of recognized assets
Gross amounts offset in the Statement of Financial Condition
Net amounts of assets presented in the Statement of Financial Condition
Futures contracts
Counterparty C
$ 719,162
$ (343,980)
$ 375,182
Counterparty I
1,247,715
(935,027)
312,688
Counterparty J
619,635
(210,033)
409,602
Total assets
$ 2,586,512
$ (1,489,040)
$ 1,097,472
(Continued)
Liabilities
Gross amounts of recognized liabilities
Gross amounts offset in the Statement of Financial Condition
Net amounts of liabilities presented in the Statement of Financial Condition
Forward currency contracts
Counterparty G
$ 2,882,795
$ (2,020,760)
$ 862,035
Counterparty K
2,257,956
(1,923,927)
334,029
Total liabilities
$ 5,140,751
$ (3,944,687)
$ 1,196,064
(Concluded)
Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Condition
Counterparty
Net amounts of Assets presented in the Statement of Financial Condition
Financial Instruments
Collateral Received (1)(2)
Net Amount (3)
Counterparty C
$ 375,182
$
-
$ (375,182)
$
-
Counterparty I
312,688
-
(312,688)
-
Counterparty J
409,602
-
(409,602)
-
Total
$ 1,097,472
$
-
$ (1,097,472)
$
-
Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Condition
Counterparty
Net amounts of Liabilities presented in the Statement of Financial Condition
Financial Instruments
Collateral Pledged (1)(2)
Net Amount (4)
Counterparty G
$ 862,035
$
-
$ (862,035)
$
-
Counterparty K
334,029
-
(334,029)
-
Total
$ 1,196,064
$
-
$ (1,196,064)
$
-
(1) Collateral received includes trades made on exchanges. These trades are subject to central counterparty clearing where settlement is guaranteed
by the exchange. Collateral pledged includes both cash and U.S. Treasury notes held at each respective counterparty.
(2) Collateral disclosed is limited to an amount not to exceed 100% of the net amount of assets presented in the Statement of Financial Condition
for each respective counterparty.
(3) Net amount represents the amount that is subject to loss in the event of a counterparty failure as of December 31, 2019.
(4) Net amount represents the amounts owed by the Partnership to each counterparty as of December 31, 2019.
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
Credit risk is the possibility that a loss may occur due to the failure of a counterparty to perform according to the terms of a contract. Credit risk is normally reduced to the extent that an exchange or clearing organization acts as a counterparty to futures transactions since typically the collective credit of the members of the exchange is pledged to support the financial integrity of the exchange.
The General Partner seeks to minimize credit risk primarily by depositing and maintaining the Partnership’s assets at financial institutions and trading counterparties which the General Partner believes to be creditworthy. In addition, for OTC forward currency contracts, the Partnership
enters into master netting agreements with its counterparties. Collateral posted at the various counterparties for trading of futures and forward currency contracts includes cash and U.S. Treasury notes.
The Partnership’s forward currency trading activities are cleared by DB and BA. The Partnership’s concentration of credit risk associated with DB or BA nonperformance includes unrealized gains inherent in such contracts, which are recognized in the Statements of Financial Condition plus the value of margin or collateral held by DB and BA. The amount of such credit risk was $11,896,696 and $10,942,019 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 , respectively. |
