This collection of articles covers the commodity derivatives markets from a broadly conceptual perspective. Specifically, this set of articles reviews (a) the potentially persistent sources of return in the commodity futures markets; (b) the differing risk-management priorities for commercial...

This article reviews a class of trading strategies known as “weather fear premia” trades. It argues that these types of trades may comprise a type of risk premium and notes the extra diligence needed in their risk management. The article notes that both superior trade construction and an...

Should an investor enter into long-term positions in oil futures contracts? In answering this question, this paper will cover the following three considerations: (1) the case for structural positions in crude oil futures contracts; (2) useful indicators for avoiding crash risk; and (3) financial...

This paper will argue that one can intelligently invest in the commodity markets and will briefly touch on three approaches, which in turn are drawn from “Intelligent Commodity Investing” (Risk Books, 2007). The first two sections of this paper will discuss two historically profitable...

Managed futures strategies are a niche-within-a-niche in the capital markets. Despite this status, managed futures have become of particular interest to hedge fund investors. This paper will discuss why this has become the case by focusing on this strategy's unique diversification properties. We...

Until recently, one could only gain expertise in commodity-derivatives relationships if one had worked in niche commodity-processor companies or in banks that specialized in hedging project risk for natural-resource companies. The contribution of this paper is to help fill the knowledge gap in...

The paper discusses the practical issues involved in applying a disciplined risk management methodology to futures trading. Specifically, the paper shows how to apply methodologies derived from both conventional asset management and hedge fund management to futures trading as well as discussing...