Spread Edge Capital specializes in seasonal spread trading across a wide variety of commodity markets. A spread trade is the simultaneous purchase and sale of the same commodity with different delivery dates.  SpreadEdge publishes a weekly Newsletter that provides several seasonal spread trade opportunities every week.

Watch List
The SpreadEdge Newsletter includes a “Watch List” of trades that meet our strict screening criteria.  Included in the Watch List are the markets, commodity symbols, entry and exit dates, win %, average profit, average drawdown, best profit, worst loss, and risk level (using a 1-5 scale).  All information is hypothetical and is based on the most recent 15 years of historical data.

This week there are 3 trades planned for clients and personal accounts.  This article will focus on the Coffee calendar spread.

Disclaimer

HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE MANY INHERENT LIMITATIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE DESCRIBED BELOW. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN. IN FACT, THERE ARE FREQUENTLY SHARP DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS AND THE ACTUAL RESULTS SUBSEQUENTLY ACHIEVED BY ANY PARTICULAR TRADING PROGRAM.  ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS IS THAT THEY ARE GENERALLY PREPARED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. IN ADDITION, HYPOTHETICAL TRADING DOES NOT INVOLVE FINANCIAL RISK, AND NO HYPOTHETICAL TRADING RECORD CAN COMPLETELY ACCOUNT FOR THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL RISK IN ACTUAL TRADING. FOR EXAMPLE, THE ABILITY TO WITHSTAND LOSSES OR TO ADHERE TO A PARTICULAR TRADING PROGRAM IN SPITE OF TRADING LOSSES ARE MATERIAL POINTS WHICH CAN ALSO ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER FACTORS RELATED TO THE MARKETS IN GENERAL OR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY SPECIFIC TRADING PROGRAM WHICH CANNOT BE FULLY ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE PREPARATION OF HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS AND ALL OF WHICH CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS.
 

Technical Analysis

Coffee has climbed nearly 40% in November and has cleanly broken through the top of the upward channel.  The candle on Friday looks bearish and indicates that the advance is either over or at least will consolidate over the next few weeks.

Hedge Fund Position Estimates

The Commitment of Traders (COT) report, issued by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), offers a weekly snapshot of the positions taken by different market participants in the U.S. futures markets. Published every Friday at 3:30 PM Eastern Time, the COT report reflects positions held as of the previous Tuesday's closing business hours.  Peak Trading Research assesses the latest COT report, examining alterations in price and open interest to provide an appraisal of net fund positioning daily.

Coffee is at its highest hedge fund position over the past 52 weeks.

% Carry Yield

Futures calendar curves vary in shape over time. Some often invert, with front-month contract prices exceeding those of later contracts, resulting in positive carry. Conversely, some curves exhibit contango, leading to a negative carry.  % Carry yield is the one-year calendar curve yield as a percentage of contract notional value.  Markets tend to reverse when they get at or near their highest or lowest levels over the past 52 weeks.

Coffee is also at its highest carry yield over the past 52 weeks.

CTA Momentum and Relative Strength

The CTA Momentum Score is an accurate measure of current momentum and trend-following trader positioning using a (+10 / -10 scale). Momentum and trend following traders represent a large percentage of trading and can move markets significantly higher or lower. 

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements on a scale of 0 to 100.  Scores above 70 or below 30 are prime for reversal.

Coffee has a maximum score of 10, indicating that CTAs are fully invested and have no trading capital to add to existing longs.  Note also that the RSI score is 83 and well above the 70 level that is considered reversal territory.

Spread Chart
Spread Charts represent the difference between the front and back month contracts and are simply the front month price minus the back month price.  Spreads that are sold profit when the price gets more negative or less positive.  Spreads that are bought profit when prices get more positive or less negative.

To trade Coffee, I will sell the March May calendar spread.  The optimal entry date is Thursday December 5 based on the past 15 years of historical data.

More Information

Use coupon code “SpreadEdge” and get the Weekly Newsletter and Daily Alerts for $1 for the first month.  For a limited time, you can receive my Futures Training Videos for free with a 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month subscription.

For a FREE eBook about the SpreadEdge seasonal spread strategy.

The SpreadEdge Weekly Newsletter is published every weekend and provides a broad overview of the important seasonal, technical, and fundamental indicators within the Energy, Grains, Meats, Softs, Metals and Currency markets.  In addition, spread trade recommendations and follow-up on open trades is also provided.  For a free copy of the Weekly Newsletter, please send an email to info@SpreadEdgeCapital.com

Darren Carlat

SpreadEdge Capital, LLC

(214) 636-3133

Darren@SpreadEdgeCapital.com

www.SpreadEdgeCapital.com

Disclaimer

SpreadEdge Capital, LLC is registered as a Commodity Trading Advisor with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and is an NFA member. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Futures trading is not suitable for all investors, The risk associated with futures trading is substantial. Only risk capital should be used for these investments because you can lose more than your original investment. This is not a solicitation.