While grocery prices grab the headlines, chocolate might be the story of 2024. The standout trend of 2023 was one that most people overlooked in their day-to-day lives. Cocoa futures surged over 70%1 for the year, and this rally2 seems to have staying power. Smaller trend managers benefited from seizing this opportunity, unlike larger programs […]| IASG
Disclaimer While investment in managed futures can help enhance returns and reduce risk, it can also do just the opposite and, in fact result in further losses in a portfolio. In addition, studies conducted on managed futures as a whole may not be indicative of the performance of any individual CTA. The results of studies […]| IASG
Most top-down and global macro managers follow all of the macro data announced each day. They will compare data across time and countries to understand relative economic performance, but when they go back to basics to understand how data are constructed, they will usually get a very uneasy feeling. How much noise is in this data?| IASG
Once left for dead, gold speculators can sleep easily in 2025 as the yellow metal sits at all-time highs once again. Despite the shift to Bitcoin and other digital assets, the enduring nature of gold as an inflation hedge continues. What is driving this surge, and will cryptocurrencies still win the battle? Reasons for optimism […]| IASG
New investors to the futures world often ask, “How does opening an account work?” It is a good question. Unlike traditional brokerage accounts, the rules of margin, how trades clear, and the counterparties involved operate differently. A Futures Commission Merchant, typically called by its FCM acronym, is a key player working between all the various […]| IASG
After months of telling the public that “Inflation is transitory,” the Fed finally admitted that it kept policy loose for too long in 2021. Months of rate hikes followed in 2022, dragging the stock market down as assets repriced. Now, the rates in the United States outpace those of major economic zones across the world. […]| IASG
I know a lot about grains. In fact, I know much more than the average person about energies, metals, currencies, softs, and financials. I would never try to trade any of them for customers for a simple reason. I know others who have done nothing for most of their careers except focus on each area. […]| IASG
A margin call is one of the phrases that scares a new futures investor the most. Often, they picture life savings getting wiped out in seconds, as it does in movies. The truth is not nearly as intimidating. Margin is simply a tool. One that educated investors often love. After all, if you expected your […]| IASG
“A portfolio where everything goes up together is a bad portfolio,” a wise man once told me. Increasingly, this point seems lost on investors who seem to buy every stock market dip with positive results. Much like the Thanksgiving turkey that feels more comfortable with each passing day, the chance of severe loss might get […]| IASG
I was recently interviewed for a few articles and the topic of overlaying strategies was discussed as a potential component of a managed futures portfolio. Realizing this topic is not discussed as much as it should be; it opens the door to a more in-depth understanding of managed futures. It is a topic I cover in my managed futures course at DePaul University.| IASG
What makes a futures program great? Obvious answers include excellent performance, low drawdowns, a high Sharpe ratio, or consistent returns. While everyone searches for those qualities, large money managers know that the secret to producing all of those is to build portfolios that target those goals using multiple strategies. After all, high returns and low […]| IASG
Futures investors often wonder, “If the equity markets are going up, why aren’t we following that trend and making money?” The truth is that many markets can be trending at once or very few at all. Oftentimes, the best trade is in another market completely. One of the best trades recently is long cattle. Yet, […]| IASG
My great-grandfather built a cottage on the shores of Lake Michigan almost 100 years ago. Five generations later, we still spend our summers relaxing on the beach. Some of the best days, however, can take a sharp turn. Despite perfect weather on shore, we sometimes see dark clouds gather and lightning bolts light up the […]| IASG
All traders use rules. Some program it into their systems. Others use guidelines that relate to their profit goals and risk levels and implement them with each new position. While many investors see the danger in futures, the best traders use the market features to their advantage. One thing they all share is a healthy […]| IASG
*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. THE RISK OF LOSS IN TRADING COMMODITY FUTURES, OPTIONS, AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE (“FOREX”) IS SUBSTANTIAL. Users all around the world visit our site for many reasons. Often, they want to learn more about the choices available and how our traders compare to the ones they currently […]| IASG
Politicians like to pick and choose their economic schools of thought to justify their policy and spending decisions. Elected liberals like to point to the Keynesian effects of government spending, whereby each dollar inserted into the economy drives multiples of that value in growth. Conservative officials often use the Austrian theories, which posit that free […]| IASG
It is often said that trend followers provide “crisis alpha.” This means that market stress often benefits their strategies. This follows logically as moves get larger, coordinate together, and run consistently, trading becomes easier. These managers quickly caution that they do not always provide this negative correlation. Price action can swing unpredictably against long-standing trends […]| IASG
