July 1^st marked the 2^nd birthday of Valhalla’s flagship trading model, the International AB program, with total return since inception at 99.32% (July 2009 – June 2011).*

In that time, the model has received seven Top 10 ranking awards from BarclayHedge, for currency traders managing less than $10M.^

What is it that makes this model so unique?

First item to note is that the International AB program is managed by our development team who has more than 32 years of combined experience within the foreign exchange markets.

In addition, our chief developers have over 30 years of combined programming/software development experience.

Our philosophy for the International AB program is to operate this trading model as a short term, systematic trading strategy. The model relies on high-speed connectivity solutions and direct liquidity access, provided by our partnering prime brokers (Rabobank and FC Stone). The model’s functionality was designed over FIX API.

Our model is based primarily on technical analysis and a series of automated algorithms. The strategy seeks to observe over 70 currency pairs and actively executes trades in as many as 45 currency pairs daily. Our model is constructed on a pre-defined set of rules programmed into our algorithms.

Our International AB trading model presently trades approximately $12+ billion annually in foreign exchange transaction volume** for approximately every $1 million in assets under management.

To access performance/track record, please login to our Managed Account Database.  For other due diligence details, please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact Stephen Hart at +1.813.375.9221. The minimum investment in our program is $100,000. This program is reserved for Professional ECP clients in the United States and all qualified international clients.

*PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. THE RISK OF LOSS IN TRADING COMMODITY INTERESTS CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL. YOU SHOULD THEREFORE CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER SUCH TRADING IS SUITABLE FOR YOU IN LIGHT OF YOUR FINANCIAL CONDITION. THE HIGH DEGREE OF LEVERAGE THAT IS OFTEN OBTAINABLE IN COMMODITY INTEREST TRADING CAN WORK AGAINST YOU AS WELL AS FOR YOU. THE USE OF LEVERAGE CAN LEAD TO LARGE LOSSES AS WELL AS GAINS.

** > 6.7 BILLION USD IN 6 MONTHS (NOV 2010 – APR 2011) AT FCSTONE. 4.9 BILLION USD IN 4 MONTHS (JAN 2011 – APR 2011) AT RABOBANK.

^THIS PROGRAM WAS RANKED BASED ON THE DATA IN BARCLAYHEDGE'S CTA DATABASE. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE ONLY RANKED AGAINST OTHER CTA’S IN THE DATABASE.

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The video above was taken from the Managed Futures Resource Center of the CME Group website.  This is being shared for informational purposes only.

There is substantial risk of loss in trading commodity futures, options and off-exchange foreign currency products.  Past performance is not indicative of future results.

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By Stephen Hart & Charles Campbell

Just about anyone that spends enough time around the world of forex investments can share their opinions on the ingredients needed for success, but not many have a winning signature recipe for creating a long lasting managed forex portfolio.

For example, many will immediately say you should diversify. But if that limited opinion doesn’t carry valid experience and proper “how to” knowledge, you could get left with a portfolio of false security.

DIVERSIFICATION

We do agree that the first step in our recipe is to diversify your portfolio. But you first need to understand that diversification is not just adding a bunch of products together. You need to research and find a successful variety of products that accomplish different strategic goals. i.e. if you had five managers who all scalped the Asian session, then you’d not have much success when that market experiences an unusual volatility spike. Your portfolio of managers could all likely experience a drawdown of varying degrees at the same time and that should not be your objective within a diversified portfolio.

By contrast, a savvy investor will approach diversification by adding unique strategies that trade at various times and currencies, execute differing approaches and also might have a range of holding periods, etc.

WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION

The second step in our recipe is to apply the proper weight distribution for each program in your portfolio’s allocation.

What do we mean by applying the proper weight distribution? Well, by allocating across a diverse pool of managers, you might place only 5% of your allocation on a program that exercises a greater degree of leverage/risk. By only allocating a small portion of your overall allocation, you can essentially minimize the overall risk to your portfolio.

Example: A manager may establish a higher targeted maximum expected risk exposure of 30%. Let’s say that based on that variable, you allocated $5,000 of your $100,000 portfolio to their program. By allocating only 5% of your portfolio to the program, you have minimized your maximum expected exposure on this program to 1.5% or $1,500 (30% of $5,000). *Please read our full risk disclaimer. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

EXERCISING DISCIPLINE

The third step is to approach your forex investment portfolio with patience and discipline, and allowing your investment plan to work. Too often in forex investments, we see investors fall and often fail, due to their emotions. Their portfolio’s transparency, liquidity and the control given, often backfire negatively.

We monitor investors everyday who have investments that might not go their way after a week or a month and immediately they want to get out. But investors need to look across the other asset classes they are vested in and exercise similar treatment.

It’s no different than buying real estate 6 years ago in 2005 at the market’s highs or investing in your 401k or IRA back then. In the fall of 2008, all these investments took a massive hit. Unfortunately, these investments are not as liquid and if you attempted to liquidate them right away, you’d have likely lost more to short sale, foreclosures, penalties, taxes, etc. In contrast, you do have the access to liquidate your forex portfolio in shorter order, however, you probably should subdue that urge.

In the same way that you approach your IRA, 401k and real estate portfolios for the long term, investors should also view their forex and futures portfolios in the same manner. If you’re down 7% in a year, it’s not the end of the world, it’s just a drawdown. Your IRA and real estate hasn’t always made you money year over year and neither will your forex portfolio.

The advantage with a forex investment is that the market is most often more liquid and you can be a slight bit more flexible with your choices to move or exit, but this doesn’t mean you jump around each time your emotions get the better of you and you over-react to every single drawdown that takes place.

Drawdowns happen. Having great patience, discipline and trusting in your portfolio blend will hopefully smooth out your overall exposure/risk and provide you an opportunity for more stable returns over the long term.

If you're interested in finding managed forex programs and you've not already Registered for our Managed Account database, please do so right now by clicking here. Also feel free to contact us today if you'd like to arrange a free consultation to discuss your unique investment needs.

RISK DISCLOSURE STATEMENT:
THE RISK OF LOSS IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE, FUTURES AND OPTIONS TRADING CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL. YOU SHOULD THEREFORE CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER SUCH TRADING IS SUITABLE FOR YOU IN LIGHT OF YOUR FINANCIAL CONDITION. THE HIGH DEGREE OF LEVERAGE THAT IS OFTEN OBTAINABLE IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE, FUTURES OR OPTIONS TRADING CAN WORK AGAINST YOU AS WELL AS FOR YOU. THE USE OF LEVERAGE CAN LEAD TO LARGE LOSSES AS WELL AS GAINS. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

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There are five distinct benefits you should consider when looking at diversification of your portfolio into Managed Foreign Exchange offerings:

1. Potential for higher portfolio returns

This means that you’re able to trade long or short, in rising or falling markets.

2. Opportunity for reduced portfolio volatility risk

When added to a traditional portfolio of stocks and bonds, managed futures have the potential to reduce the volatility risk of the entire portfolio.

3. Non-correlation to traditional asset classes

Historically low correlation when compared with traditional asset classes such as stocks and bonds

4. Global diversification in liquid markets

Trade more than 99 currency pairs

5. Real-time online transparency 24-7

Enjoy the ability to view your live account at any time, via your pc, smartphone or tablet.

RISK DISCLOSURE STATEMENT:
THE RISK OF LOSS IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE, FUTURES AND OPTIONS TRADING CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL. YOU SHOULD THEREFORE CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER SUCH TRADING IS SUITABLE FOR YOU IN LIGHT OF YOUR FINANCIAL CONDITION. THE HIGH DEGREE OF LEVERAGE THAT IS OFTEN OBTAINABLE IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE, FUTURES OR OPTIONS TRADING CAN WORK AGAINST YOU AS WELL AS FOR YOU. THE USE OF LEVERAGE CAN LEAD TO LARGE LOSSES AS WELL AS GAINS. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

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