What makes futures attractive to today's institutional and retail investor is the ability to profit in any economic environment and the ability to achieve greater diversity from their traditional investment portfolio. Further, through the use of global futures markets, CTA's can seek profit anywhere futures are traded. However, please be aware that futures trading does involve substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors.

Commodities are a true alternative investment. While many so called alternative investments (like hedge funds) are really no more than alternate strategies within an existing asset class, futures provide diversification into a true alternative asset class through exposure to commodity markets.
Venture capital, private equity, and many hedge funds are actually an extension of the equity class (stocks), not an alternate asset class altogether.

In contrast, Powertrade brings exposure to a different asset class in commodities , which provide economic value through being consumed or transformed - not on the basis of future cash flows like stocks and bonds.

Independent Research on Alternative Investing:

A study published by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange concluded that portfolios with as much as 20% of assets in managed futures "enhances portfolio diversity and therefore promotes greater independence from general market moves".

According to Dr. Harry M. Markowitz, the Nobel prize-winning economist and father of modern portfolio theory, portfolios with decreased volatility and increased performance can be created by diversifying among asset categories with low to negative correlation, such as stocks and commodities. Subscribers to this theory believe an investment portfolio containing alternative investments with low to negative correlation stands to perform better, with lower overall risk.

Derivative transactions, including futures, are complex and carry a risk of substantial losses. They are intended for sophisticated investors who understand risk.