What distinguish commodities from other asset classes?

Commodities are a standalone asset class that can enhance the value of your securities portfolio, because, as a rule, they - and precious metals in particular - generally exhibit only a moderate correlation with other asset classes such as equities, bonds and currencies, the performance of which has little impact on commodity prices for that reason. That means commodities can add welcome diversification benefits to a broad-based portfolio while contributing positively to the performance of the overall portfolio.

Real assets with added value

Commodities are generally seen as a good hedge against inflation - a key reason for investing in this asset class. As real assets, commodities tend to increase in value in an environment of rising consumer prices.

If the global economy is booming, demand for commodities such as crude oil, natural gas and industrial metals is particularly strong. Moreover, the prosperity of the world's population likewise tends to increase in a positive economic growth environment, which results in demands that are increasingly sophisticated and needs that are better satisfied.

Long-term prospects of ETF commodities

An investment in ETF commodities can be seen as strategic. Commodities are a viable long-term investment as resources are naturally limited and thus finite. In a market economy, a limited - and arguably steadily declining - supply leads to rising prices even if demand remains flat. In view of the growing global population, we can even expect to see increased demand for commodities over the long term in an effort to secure future supplies. One example of the potential impact is China, whose growing economy has increased the general demand for commodities.

A very convenient and effective way to invest in commodities is through products that track a commodities index, for example in the form of UBS ETFs (exchange traded funds).

Using futures to participate in commodity prices

Similarly to other commodity indices, the UBS Bloomberg CMCI Index family uses futures contracts (forward commodities transactions) to track the performance of commodity prices. Trading via the futures market postpones the date of exercise of the contract (to a point in the future), typically allowing commodity traders sufficient time to avoid physical delivery (and receipt). The only requirement is that they "close out" their position before the futures contract expires. Positions may be closed out, for example through the resale of contracts. This makes it possible to participate in the price performance of the underlying commodity up to maturity without actually physically handling it.

The roll mechanism of commodity futures

It follows that, for a long-term commodity investment using futures contracts, existing contracts must be replaced by new ones before the delivery date in order to avoid physical delivery. This replacement process is referred to as "rolling", making it possible to invest in commodities without maturity constraints. However, irrespective of the current performance in the commodity market, the replacement of futures affects the value of an investment as contracts with different maturities do not as a rule cost the same. The difference between the selling price of an expiring futures contract and the purchase price of a longer dated futures contract has an influence on the performance of a commodity index. This process is referred to as the roll effect. It can result in either gains or losses.

Roll returns and losses

If the price of futures contracts with later delivery dates is lower than the current contract, rolling into the contract that is next according to maturity is cheaper. Accordingly, the number of futures contracts increases following the roll process. This is known as a roll gain or backwardation. If the price of later dated futures is higher than the current contract, rolling into the contract that is next according to maturity is more expensive. In this case, the number of futures declines following the roll process. This is known as a roll loss or contango.

The UBS Bloomberg CMCI approach

The UBS Bloomberg CMCI Index family was developed by UBS in cooperation with Bloomberg in order to track as closely as possible the real performance of commodity prices via futures contracts. As the first-ever commodity index, the UBS Bloomberg CMCI Index family uses up to five constant maturities. One the one hand, this allows the index to reflect the entire pricing picture and thus all market price assessments; on the other, roll losses are reduced as a result. The daily rolling of futures contracts ensures that the average time-to-maturity of futures contracts tracked by the UBS Bloomberg CMCI Index is kept permanently constant - unlike most traditional index concepts where one rolling transaction is conducted only once a month.

The Composite is the most broadly diversified UBS Bloomberg CMCI index and covers the entire commodity market. The UBS Bloomberg CMCI Composite TR Index includes commodities from five sectors:

• Energy,
• Industrial metals,
• Precious metals,
• Agriculture and livestock.

Accordingly, the UBS Bloomberg CMCI Composite TR Index positions itself as a market-wide commodity index offering investors "double" diversification. This is because the index covers a wide variety of commodities while including all liquid contract maturities.

What is the UBS Bloomberg Constant Maturity Commodity Index?

The UBS Bloomberg Constant Maturity Commodity Index not only invests in short-term futures contracts but also diversifies its investments across the entire maturity curve.

By giving investors access to "constant maturities," it offers more constant exposure to the asset class while avoiding speculation that can accompany the monthly "rolling" of traditional indices; at the same time, it is able to minimize the risk of negative roll returns.

Energy plays a key role in the global economy. Crude oil and the fuels produced from it, such as heating oil and gasoline, are primarily responsible for keeping the economy running. Rising oil prices can choke the global economic engine.

Industrialized countries were first confronted with this interdependence during the oil crises in the 1970s when the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reduced production, causing the price of oil to soar. The governments of industrialized countries have since been making efforts to reduce their reliance on energy imports. Even forty years after the first oil crisis, however, fossil fuels continue to be a fundamental driver of the global economy.

What’s the UBS Bloomberg CMCI WTI Crude Oil TR Index?

The UBS Bloomberg CMCI WTI Crude Oil TR Index not only invests in short-term futures contracts but also diversifies its investments across the entire maturity curve. By giving investors access to constant maturity, we offer a more consistent exposure to the asset class whilst avoiding the performance drag that can accompany traditional front-monthly rolling of traditional indices; at the same time, it attempts to minimize the risk of negative roll returns.

Your benefits of investing in UBS ETF commodities at a glance

• Full replication of the commodity markets through investments across the entire futures curve
• Minimal Tracking Error in replicating the underlying commodity indices
• Minimized roll losses with the opportunity to earn a higher total return compared to traditional index concepts
• Diversification across the entire futures curve results in lower volatility versus traditional index concepts
• Higher risk/reward ratio (Sharpe ratio): Potential returns are higher and risk taken (volatility) is lower compared to traditional index concepts
• Daily rolling allows for "constant" maturities
  

UBS ETFs invest in various asset classes

For example, equities, bonds, commodities, precious metals, hedge funds and real estate, and may therefore be subject to high fluctuations in value. An investment in these funds is therefore only suitable for investors with an investment horizon of at least five years and a corresponding risk tolerance/capacity.

Market fluctuations

Every fund has specific risks that may increase sharply in unusual market conditions. The net asset value of the fund therefore depends directly on the performance of the underlying index.

Losses

Losses are not offset. For more information about the risks, please see the prospectus.

Currency risks

If the currency of a financial product or financial service is not the same as your reference currency. The performance may increase or decrease due to currency fluctuations.

Risks of restricted or increased liquidity in the fund (liquidity risk)

There are risks that may negatively impact the liquidity of the fund. This may result in the fund temporarily or permanently being unable to meet its payment obligations or it temporarily or permanently being unable to fulfill redemption requests from investors. It may occur that the investors would not be able to hold the instrument for the planned holding period and the invested capital or parts thereof may be unavailable indefinitely. If liquidity risks are realized, it may also occur that the net asset value of the fund, and therefore also the unit value, would fall, for example if the company is forced, where legally permissible, to sell assets for the fund at below the market value.

Counterparty risk including credit/receivables risk

There are risks that may arise for the fund as part of a contractual relationship with another party (so-called counterparty). In this respect there is a risk that the contractual party may no longer be able to fulfill its obligations under the contract. These risks may negatively impact the performance of the fund and are therefore detrimental to the unit value and the capital invested by the investor. If the investor sells units in the fund at a time when a counterparty or central clearing counterparty has defaulted and therefore the value of the fund has been negatively impacted, it is possible that the investor may not receive all or any of the money he/she has invested in the fund. As such, the investor could lose some or even all of the capital invested in the fund.

Operational and other risks for the fund

Operational risks refer to risks that may, for example, arise as a result of insufficient internal processes as well as human or system errors at the company or external third parties. In particular, this includes risks resulting from criminal acts, misuse or natural disasters, legal or political risks, changes to tax conditions or custody risks. These risks may negatively impact the performance of the fund and are therefore detrimental to the unit value and the capital invested by the investor. If an investor sells units in the fund at a time when the prices of the assets contained in the fund are lower than when they were acquired, he/she may not receive all or any of the money he/she has invested in the fund. As such, the investor could lose some or even all of the capital invested in the fund.

Specific risks

These risks are not exhaustive. Investments in a product should be made only after careful study of the current prospectus. The distribution of this information is permitted only under the conditions provided by applicable law.