v3.8.0.1
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Use of Estimates & Indemnifications

Use of Estimates & Indemnifications

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

In the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations which provide general indemnifications. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements cannot be known; however, the Trust expects any risk of loss to be remote.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

Pursuant to rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), financial statements are presented for the Trust as a whole, as the SEC registrant, and for each Fund individually. The debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular Fund shall be enforceable only against the assets of such Fund and not against the assets of the Trust generally or any other Fund. Accordingly, the assets of one Fund of the Trust include only those funds and other assets that are paid to, held by or distributed to the Trust for the purchase of Shares in that Fund.

Statement of Cash Flows

Statement of Cash Flows

The cash amount shown in the Statements of Cash Flows is the amount reported as cash in the Statement of Financial Condition dated September 30, 2017, and represents non-segregated cash with the custodian and does not include short-term investments.

Final Net Asset Value for Fiscal Period

Final Net Asset Value for Fiscal Period

The cut-off times and the times of the calculation of the Funds’ final net asset value for creation and redemption of fund Shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 were as follows. All times are Eastern Standard Time:

 

     Create/Redeem
Cut-off*
     NAV Calculation
Time
     NAV
Calculation Date
 

UltraShort Silver, Ultra Silver

     6:30 a.m.        7:00 a.m.        September 30, 2017  

UltraShort Gold, Ultra Gold

     9:30 a.m.        10:00 a.m.        September 30, 2017  

UltraShort Bloomberg Crude Oil,

Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil

     2:00 p.m.        2:30 p.m.        September 30, 2017  

UltraPro 3x Short Crude Oil ETF

        

UltraPro 3x Crude Oil ETF

        

UltraShort Bloomberg Natural Gas,

Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas

     2:00 p.m.        2:30 p.m.        September 30, 2017  

UltraShort Australian Dollar

     3:00 p.m.        4:00 p.m.        September 30, 2017  

Short Euro

     3:00 p.m.        4:00 p.m.        September 30, 2017  

UltraShort Euro,

Ultra Euro

        

UltraShort Yen,

Ultra Yen

     3:00 p.m.        4:00 p.m.        September 30, 2017  

VIX Short-Term Futures ETF,

Ultra VIX Short-Term Futures ETF,

Short VIX Short-Term Futures ETF

     2:00 p.m.        4:15 p.m.        September 30, 2017  

VIX Mid-Term Futures ETF

     2:00 p.m.        4:15 p.m.        September 30, 2017  

 

* Although the Funds’ shares may continue to trade on secondary markets subsequent to the calculation of the final NAV, these times represent the final opportunity to transact in creation or redemption units for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Market value per Share is determined at the close of the NYSE Arca and may be later than when the Funds’ NAV per Share is calculated.

For financial reporting purposes, the Funds value transactions based upon the final closing price in their primary markets. Accordingly, the investment valuations in these financial statements may differ from those used in the calculation of certain of the Funds’ final creation/redemption NAV for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Investment Valuation

Investment Valuation

Short-term investments are valued at amortized cost which approximates fair value for daily NAV purposes. For financial reporting purposes, short-term investments are valued at their market price using information provided by a third-party pricing service or market quotations. In each of these situations, valuations are typically categorized as Level I in the fair value hierarchy.

Derivatives (e.g., futures contracts, swap agreements, forward agreements and foreign currency forward contracts) are generally valued using independent sources and/or agreements with counterparties or other procedures as determined by the Sponsor. Futures contracts, except for those entered into by the Gold, Silver, Australian Dollar and Short Euro Funds, are generally valued at the last settled price on the applicable exchange on which that future trades. Futures contracts entered into by the Gold, Silver, Australian Dollar and Short Euro Funds are valued at the last sales price prior to the time at which the NAV per Share of a Fund is determined. For financial reporting purposes, all futures contracts are valued at the last settled price. Futures contracts valuations are typically categorized as Level I in the fair value hierarchy. Swap agreements, forward agreements and foreign currency forward contracts valuations are typically categorized as Level II in the fair value hierarchy. If there was no sale on that day, and for non-exchange-traded derivatives, the Sponsor may in its sole discretion choose to determine a fair value price as the basis for determining the market value of such position for such day. Such fair value prices would generally be determined based on available inputs about the current value of the underlying financial instrument or commodity and would be based on principles that the Sponsor deems fair and equitable so long as such principles are consistent with industry standards. When market closing prices are not available, the Sponsor may fair value an asset of a Fund pursuant to the policies the Sponsor has adopted, which are consistent with normal industry standards. Depending on the source and relevant significance of valuation inputs, these instruments may be classified as Level II or Level III in the fair value hierarchy.

Fair value pricing may require subjective determinations about the value of an investment. While the Funds’ policies are intended to result in a calculation of its respective Fund’s NAV that fairly reflects investment values as of the time of pricing, such Fund cannot ensure that fair values determined by the Sponsor or persons acting at their direction would accurately reflect the price that a Fund could obtain for an investment if it were to dispose of that investment as of the time of pricing (for instance, in a forced or distressed sale). The prices used by such Fund may differ from the value that would be realized if the investments were sold and the differences could be material to the financial statements.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Funds disclose the fair value of their investments in a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The disclosure requirements establish a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between: (1) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Funds (observable inputs); and (2) the Funds’ own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available under the circumstances (unobservable inputs). The three levels defined by the disclosure requirements 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 in different levels of the fair value hierarchy. The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls is determined based on the lowest input level that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

Fair value measurements also require additional disclosure when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased, as well as when circumstances indicate that a transaction is not orderly.

The following table summarizes the valuation of investments at September 30, 2017 using the fair value hierarchy:

 

     Level I - Quoted Prices     Level II - Other Significant Observable Inputs        
     Short-Term U.S.
Government

and Agencies
     Futures
Contracts*
    Forward
Agreements
    Foreign Currency
Forward
Contracts
    Swap
Agreements
    Total  

VIX Short-Term Futures ETF

   $ 186,716,429      $ (18,329,321   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 168,387,108  

VIX Mid-Term Futures ETF

     35,955,278        (1,941,640     —         —         —         34,013,638  

Short VIX Short-Term Futures ETF

     770,134,521        94,244,035       —         —         —         864,378,556  

Ultra VIX Short-Term Futures ETF

     521,315,100        (101,763,031     —         —         —         419,552,069  

UltraShort Bloomberg Crude Oil

     246,666,306        (5,367,489     —         —         (13,678,377     227,620,440  

UltraPro 3X Short Crude Oil ETF

     —          (2,423,370     —         —         —         (2,423,370

UltraShort Bloomberg Natural Gas

     2,998,697        348,521       —         —         —         3,347,218  

UltraShort Gold

     34,940,087        (9,540     2,961,605       —         —         37,892,152  

UltraShort Silver

     17,966,229        4,940       2,152,433       —         —         20,123,602  

Short Euro

     5,998,433        106,206       —         —         —         6,104,639  

UltraShort Australian Dollar

     7,997,911        379,490       —         —         —         8,377,401  

UltraShort Euro

     219,684,550        —         —         3,899,693       —         223,584,243  

UltraShort Yen

     137,818,917        —         —         9,246,879       —         147,065,796  

Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil

     562,359,737        13,817,653       —         —         40,796,900       616,974,290  

UltraPro 3X Crude Oil ETF

     —          1,272,779       —         —         —         1,272,779  

Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas

     42,919,932        (971,690     —         —         —         41,948,242  

Ultra Gold

     101,900,580        9,520       (8,453,427     —         —         93,456,673  

Ultra Silver

     270,629,525        (4,940     (28,243,802     —         —         242,380,783  

Ultra Euro

     10,995,765        —         —         (209,360     —         10,786,405  

Ultra Yen

     4,662,411        —         —         (395,309     —         4,267,102  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Trust

   $ 3,181,660,408      $ (20,627,877   $ (31,583,191   $ 12,541,903     $ 27,118,523     $ 3,169,109,766  

 

* Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Schedules of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statements of Financial Condition in receivable/payable on open futures.

At September 30, 2017, there were no Level III portfolio investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value.

The Funds’ policy is to recognize transfers between valuation levels at the end of the reporting period.

At September 30, 2017, there were no significant transfers in or out of Level I and Level II fair value measurements.

The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following table summarizes the valuation of investments at December 31, 2016 using the fair value hierarchy:

 

     Level I - Quoted Prices     Level II - Other Significant Observable Inputs        
     Short-Term U.S.
Government and
Agencies
     Futures
Contracts*
    Forward
Agreements
    Foreign Currency
Forward
Contracts
    Swap
Agreements
    Total  

VIX Short-Term Futures ETF

   $ 147,991,233      $ (468,652   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 147,522,581  

VIX Mid-Term Futures ETF

     45,486,235        (1,288,245     —         —         —         44,197,990  

Short VIX Short-Term Futures ETF

     170,396,436        (10,309,611     —         —         —         160,086,825  

Ultra VIX Short-Term Futures ETF

     434,671,795        (7,972,237     —         —         —         426,699,558  

UltraShort Bloomberg Crude Oil

     205,694,385        (1,426,815     —         —         (12,206,881     192,060,689  

UltraShort Bloomberg Natural Gas

     2,899,151        (482,031     —         —         —         2,417,120  

UltraShort Gold

     60,540,555        18,980       3,033,566       —         —         63,593,101  

UltraShort Silver

     21,550,319        27,310       1,384,246       —         —         22,961,875  

Short Euro

     13,164,828        132,900       —         —         —         13,297,728  

UltraShort Australian Dollar

     12,909,619        1,182,340       —         —         —         14,091,959  

UltraShort Euro

     337,375,787        —         —         16,162,931       —         353,538,718  

UltraShort Yen

     257,102,313        —         —         16,744,937       —         273,847,250  

Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil

     885,050,007        5,537,165       —         —         55,358,571       945,945,743  

Ultra Bloomberg Natural Gas

     36,183,648        2,536,720       —         —         —         38,720,368  

Ultra Gold

     95,356,621        (18,960     (4,431,107     —         —         90,906,554  

Ultra Silver

     295,300,799        (27,360     (20,976,189     —         —         274,297,250  

Ultra Euro

     11,891,831        —         —         (574,010     —         11,317,821  

Ultra Yen

     5,282,879        —         —         (342,076     —         4,940,803  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Trust

   $ 3,038,848,441      $ (12,558,496   $ (20,989,484   $ 31,991,782     $ 43,151,690     $ 3,080,443,933  

 

* Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Schedules of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statements of Financial Condition in receivable/payable on open futures.

At December 31, 2016, there were no Level III portfolio investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value.

The Funds’ policy is to recognize transfers between valuation levels at the end of the reporting period.

At December 31, 2016, there were no significant transfers in or out of Level I and Level II fair value measurements.

The inputs or methodology used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

Investment Transactions and Related Income

Investment Transactions and Related Income

Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. All such transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis and marked to market daily. Unrealized appreciation/depreciation on open contracts are reflected in the Statements of Financial Condition and changes in the unrealized appreciation/depreciation between periods are reflected in the Statements of Operations. Discounts on short-term securities purchased are amortized and reflected as Interest Income in the Statements of Operations.

Brokerage Commissions and Fees

Brokerage Commissions and Fees

Each Fund pays its respective brokerage commissions, including applicable exchange fees, National Futures Association (“NFA”) fees, give-up fees, pit brokerage fees and other transaction related fees and expenses charged in connection with trading activities for each Fund’s investment in U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) regulated investments. The effects of trading spreads, financing costs/fees associated with Financial Instruments, and costs relating to the purchase of U.S. Treasury securities or similar high credit quality short-term fixed-income would also be borne by the Funds. Brokerage commissions on futures contracts are recognized on a half-turn basis (e.g., the first half is recognized when the contract is purchased (opened) and the second half is recognized when the transaction is closed. The Sponsor is currently paying brokerage commissions on VIX futures contracts for the Matching VIX Funds that exceed variable create/redeem fees collected by more than 0.02% of the Matching VIX Fund’s average net assets annually.

Federal Income Tax

Federal Income Tax

Each Fund is registered as a series of a Delaware statutory trust and is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, no Fund expects to incur U.S. federal income tax liability; rather, each beneficial owner of a Fund’s Shares is required to take into account its allocable share of its Fund’s income, gain, loss, deductions and other items for its Fund’s taxable year ending with or within the beneficial owner’s taxable year.

Management of the Funds has reviewed all open tax years and major jurisdictions (i.e., the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then, as applicable) and concluded that there is no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax benefits relating to uncertain income tax positions taken or expected to be taken in future tax returns. The Funds are also not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months. On an ongoing basis, management will monitor its tax positions taken under the interpretation to determine if adjustments to conclusions are necessary based on factors including, but not limited to, on-going analysis of tax law, regulation, and interpretations thereof.

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted

Cash” (“ASU 2016-18”), which amends ASC 230 to provide guidance on the classification and presentation of changes in restricted

cash and restricted cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after

December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. At this time, management is evaluating the implications of these

changes on the financial statements.