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FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS | NOTE 8 – FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS USBO values its investments in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 820 – Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”). ASC 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurement. The changes to past practice resulting from the application of ASC 820 relate to the definition of fair value, the methods used to measure fair value, and the expanded disclosures about fair value measurement. ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between: (1) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of USBO (observable inputs) and (2) USBO’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available under the circumstances (unobservable inputs). The three levels defined by the ASC 820 hierarchy are as follows: Level I – Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level II – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level I that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level II assets include the following: quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market-corroborated inputs). Level III – Unobservable pricing input at the measurement date for the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs shall be used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available. In some instances, the inputs used to measure fair value might fall within different levels of the fair value hierarchy. The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls shall be determined based on the lowest input level that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The following table summarizes the valuation of USBO’s securities at December 31, 2011 using the fair value hierarchy:
|  |  | 000,00,00,00 |  |  |  | 000,00,00,00 |  |  |  | 000,00,00,00 |  |  |  | 000,00,00,00 |
At December 31, 2011 |  | Total |  |  | Level I |  |  | Level II |  |  | Level III |
Short-Term Investments |  | $ | 19,346,002 |  |  | $ | 19,346,002 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Exchange-Traded Futures Contracts |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign Contracts |  |  | (916,570 | ) |  |  | (916,570 | ) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
During the year ended December 31, 2011, there were no significant transfers between Level I and Level II. The following table summarizes the valuation of USBO’s securities at December 31, 2010 using the fair value hierarchy:
|  |  | 000,00,00,00 |  |  |  | 000,00,00,00 |  |  |  | 000,00,00,00 |  |  |  | 000,00,00,00 |
At December 31, 2010 |  | Total |  |  | Level I |  |  | Level II |  |  | Level III |
Short-Term Investments |  | $ | 8,002,935 |  |  | $ | 8,002,935 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Exchange-Traded Futures Contracts |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign Contracts |  |  | 322,660 |  |  |  | 322,660 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
During the year ended December 31, 2010, there were no significant transfers between Level I and Level II. Effective January 1, 2009, USBO adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 815 – Derivatives and Hedging, which require presentation of qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts and gains and losses on derivatives. Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
Derivatives not Accounted for as Hedging Instruments |  | Statements of Financial Condition Location |  | Fair Value At December 31, 2011 |  |  | Fair Value At December 31, 2010 |
Futures - Commodity Contracts |  | Assets |  | $ | (916,570 | ) |  | $ | 322,660 |
The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statements of Operations
|  |  |  | For the year ended December 31, 2011 |  |  | For the year ended December 31, 2010* |  |  | For the period from September 2, 2009 to December 31, 2009 |
Derivatives not Accounted for as Hedging Instruments |  | Location of Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income |  | Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income |  |  | Change in Unrealized Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income |  |  | Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income |  |  | Change in Unrealized Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income |  |  | Realized Gain or (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income |  |  | Change in Unrealized Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income |
Futures - Commodity Contracts |  | Realized gain on closed positions |  | $ | 8,052,950 |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,352,020 |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  |
|  | Change in unrealized gain (loss) on open positions |  |  |  |  |  | $ | (1,239,230 | ) |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 322,660 |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | — |
* | The commencement of operations of the United States Brent Oil Fund, LP was June 2, 2010.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19296-110258 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 159 -Paragraph 17-22, 27, 28 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13433-108611 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 107 -Paragraph 15C, 15D -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14064-108612 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 16 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13504-108611 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 107 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph a-d -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 21 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13537-108611 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 44A, 44B -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 30 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14172-108612 Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 107 -Paragraph 3, 10, 14, 15 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 107 -Paragraph 15B -Subparagraph a, b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32, 33, 34 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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