Systematic trend followers were able to capture returns from multiple markets throughout the month of September, despite the choppy equity & financial markets. Our of the four Managed Futures indices that we track, all ended the month in the positive, with an average monthly return of +1.17%, and down -0.26% YTD.

(Disclaimer: Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results)
Barclayhedge CTA Index Reporting 33% of returns)

The Feds non-decision caused an up move in the financial markets and a move lower in equities, which were both trends managed futures were able to see gains from. Elsewhere in the markets, many of the managers we track were short commodities (such as Cattle and the Grain markets).

Looking into October, the markets are certainly ripe for volatility (from a discretionary standpoint), but systematic managers don’t see the fed not raising interest rates, they don’t see the record number of cattle kills, they don’t see crude oil storage in Cushings, Oklahoma; they see numbers and market metrics to enter and exit the market when the market presents the opportunity. Managed Futures has had a history of taking advantage of said opportunities in the later months of the year {Disclaimer: Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results}.