Results of Operations
During the Partnership’s third quarter of 2020, the net asset value per Class A Redeemable Unit decreased 5.0% from $1,310.18 to $1,244.40, as compared to an increase of 6.7% in the third quarter of 2019. During the Partnership’s third quarter of 2020, the net asset value per Class Z Redeemable Unit decreased 4.8% from $951.09 to $905.61, as compared to an increase of 7.3% in the third quarter of 2019. The Partnership experienced a net trading loss before fees and expenses in the third quarter of 2020 of $1,070,553. Losses were primarily attributable to the Partnership’s trading of commodity futures in currencies, energy, grains, indices, non-U.S. interest rates, livestock and softs, and were partially offset by gains in U.S. interest rates and metals. The Partnership experienced a net trading gain before fees and expenses in the third quarter of 2019 of $2,831,079. Gains were primarily attributable to the Partnership’s trading of commodity futures in currencies, grains, indices, non-U.S. interest rates, livestock, metals and softs and were partially offset by losses in energy and U.S. interest rates.
During the third quarter, the most notable losses were recorded within the stock index sector during September from long futures positions in U.S., European, and Asian indices as investors shied away from “risk assets”. Within the agricultural complex, losses were experienced throughout the quarter from short futures positions in soybean related products as prices increased due to declining acreage estimates in the U.S. and increased exports to China. Additional losses were incurred in currencies during July from short positions in the Swedish krona, British pound, Australian dollar, and Hungarian forint versus the U.S. dollar as the relative value of the U.S. dollar decreased amid weak economic data. In global interest rates, losses were incurred during August from long positions in global fixed income futures as prices declined due to an improving global economic outlook. Within the energies, losses were experienced primarily during August from short positions in natural gas futures as a heatwave in the western U.S. caused a spike in demand for power generation, pushing prices higher. The Partnership’s overall trading losses for the quarter were partially offset by trading gains within the metals complex during July from long futures positions in precious metals as prices increased due to safe haven demand. Additional gains were recorded in this sector during August from long industrial metals futures positions as prices rallied amid the weakening U.S. dollar and improved economic growth expectations.
During the Partnership’s nine months ended September 30, 2020, the net asset value per Class A Redeemable Unit decreased 4.9% from $1,309.01 to $1,244.40, as compared to an increase of 16.4% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. During the Partnership’s nine months ended September 30, 2020, the net asset value per Class Z Redeemable Unit decreased 3.7% from $940.72 to $905.61, as compared to an increase of 18.2% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The Partnership experienced a net trading gain before fees and expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 of $38,706. Gains were primarily attributable to the Partnership’s trading of commodity futures in currencies, energy, U.S. & non-U.S. interest rates, livestock and metals and were partially offset by losses in grains, indices and softs. The Partnership experienced a net trading gain before fees and expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 of $6,715,095. Gains were primarily attributable to the Partnership’s trading of commodity futures in indices, U.S. & non-U.S. interest rates and livestock and were partially offset by losses in currencies, energy, grains, metals and softs.
During the first nine months of the year, the most significant losses were incurred within global stock indices throughout the first quarter, as well as in September, from long positions in Asian, European, and U.S. equity index futures as prices fell as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic weighed on the global economy. Within the agricultural complex, losses were experienced during May, June, and throughout the third quarter from short futures positions in corn and soybean related products as prices increased due to declining acreage estimates in the U.S. and increased exports to China. A portion of the Partnership’s trading losses for the first nine months of the year was offset by trading gains in the global interest rates sector during January, February, May, July, and September from long positions in non-U.S. and U.S. fixed income futures as investors sought out safe-haven investments. Gains were also experienced in the metals complex throughout the first quarter from short futures positions in industrial metals as prices weakened due to the coronavirus raising concerns about global economic growth and weakening demand. Additional gains within this sector were experienced in precious and industrial metals during July and August. Gains were recorded within the currency sector throughout the first quarter from short positions in the Australian dollar and Norwegian krone versus the U.S. dollar as concerns from the COVID-19 virus caused investors to shift from commodity-linked currencies to safe-haven currencies. Within the energy complex, gains were experienced during January, February, May, and June from short natural gas futures positions as prices declined due to mild weather across the U.S. and ample supplies. Additional gains were achieved in this sector during September from short positions in gas oil, heating oil, and Brent crude oil as energy prices fell.
Commodity futures markets are highly volatile. The potential for broad and rapid price fluctuations and rapid inflation increases the risks involved in commodity trading, but also increase the possibility of profit. The profitability of the Partnership depends on the existence of major price trends and the ability of the Advisor to correctly identify those price trends. Price trends are influenced by, among other factors, changing supply and demand relationships, weather, public health epidemics, governmental, agricultural, commercial and trade programs and policies, national and international political and economic events and changes in interest rates. To the extent that market trends exist and the Advisor is able to identify them, the Partnership expects to increase capital through operations.
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