The Diamond Enhanced Solutions (DES) Program offers a combination of the Enhanced S&P Program (ESP), as described below, in conjunction with short-term trading systems in three typically non-correlated systems to provide diversification of markets traded and applied time-frames for a comprehensive approach and reduced volatility.

The Enhanced S&P portion of the program trades the U.S. domestic large-cap stock sector via S&P 500 futures and its options. It's a systematic, proprietary rules-based investing program seeking sustainable, long-term growth for investors by combining proven, low-correlation systems: trend-following, trend reversal and premium capture.

The Trend Following System uses a method of trading which seeks to establish and maintain market positions based on major price movements. The system determines whether the S&P market is in a bull or bear trend, then trades with the trend until a stop condition is reached. While the core of the trend following system is long-term in nature, proprietary short-term counter-trend system signals may be used to exit a position, create a neutral position, or trade against the trend on a short-term basis.

The Premium Capture System consists of writing deep out of the money covered and/or uncovered options to capture premiums, providing a more balanced and predictable source of returns. (Option positions may also increase the risk of market exposure.) Every period, options that meet proprietary risk parameters are written with the goal being to capture the premium by letting them expire, or occasionally by purchasing them back at a profit. Strict risk controls are used to limit the downside risks and achieve a desirable risk/reward ratio.

The Short-Term Trading systems within the Diamond Enhanced Solutions Program (DES) selectively trades the S&P and NASDAQ futures markets both intraday, and with some positions held overnight. Generally speaking, most positions are closed within 24 hours of entry. The systems will typically utilize the micro contracts. However, in some cases depending on account size, the mini sized contracts may be utilized. The introduction of the micro contracts for various contracts allows for more efficient positioning and risk management. Signals are generated off multiple short-term directional indicators and multiple timeframes in each of the two markets. Once a position is established, any deterioration in any of the multiple directional indictors used for entry will trigger an exit. Profit targets are also used to exit some positions. There tends to be non-correlated returns on trades given the multiple timeframes used.

Weekly option spreads may also be utilized in mini or micro S&P if various risk parameters are met. Tight risk controls are in place for these short term options, which are typically held five days or less, but may be held up to 12 days on occasion. In certain environments, weekly option spreads may be utilized in gold and crude as well, if strict risk parameters are met as well.

In less frequently occurring environments, short-term S&P futures (micro or mini depending on account size) positions could be held overnight. This would occur under certain economic conditions and is designed to trade overbought and oversold opportunities in the S&P index. Positions are initiated after an indication of a “bottoming” process in the case of an oversold market, and “topping” process for an overbought market. Positions tend to last on average 2 weeks until market prices become more neutral, or is stopped out in the case of continued selling in an oversold market, or continued buying in an overbought market.

The short-term trading in these systems has historically been negatively correlated to Diamond’s ESP strategy based on hypothetical back-tested trading beginning in October 2009, when the ESP began trading client ac-counts.

The trading strategies and systems utilized by Diamond Capital Management may be revised from time to time as a result of ongoing research and development, which seeks to devise new trading strategies and systems as well as test methods currently employed. The trading strategies and systems used by Diamond in the future may differ significantly from those presently used due to the changes which may result from this research.

Diamond Capital Management is dedicated to offering clients a well managed alternative investment products that offers consistent returns and protection of principal through the proper application of money management and continuous evaluation of risk exposure. The principals at DCM have a solid understanding of the markets and the instruments utilized in the program and possess the ability to effectively measure the probabilities of market movement and enter into positions accordingly. We at Diamond Capital Management take personal pride in managing accounts with our clients' best interest in mind.

Diamond's trading strategies are not solely dependent on market direction and are therefore suited to most market conditions. For example, instead of seeking to profit through the purchase of individual shares of stock, which are in the benchmark S&P 500 Index, DCM trades options and futures on the Index itself. When writing options on the S&P 500 Index, the market can move up, down, or sideways within a specific range and still produce profits at, or as it nears, option expiration. Futures positions may be long or short. Conversely, when buying stocks, the stock must move higher and/or pay good dividends to make the trade profitable.

It is Diamond's goal to produce consistent positive returns. Rigorous risk management is used to minimize monthly drawdowns. As such, the trading strategies have pre-defined profit goals and risk exposure. Stop loss measures are utilized as well as the use of derivative hedging techniques to quantify market exposure.

Bear in mind that past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

Kelly Farrell has over 30 years of investment experience beginning in 1987 after graduating from University of Wisconsin with a Business Administration degree. Kelly's experience includes managing a variety of areas at Firstar Bank, including the broker dealer trading desk and fixed income trading desk, later acting as lead fixed income trader and institutional sales. In 2001, Kelly became registered as a NFA Associated Member, and later became an AP and principal of Diamond Capital Management in November 2002.

Alan Hu joined Diamond Capital Management in 2013, with a background in statistics, economics, and psychology from UC Berkeley. He has helped to codify the subsystems of Diamond's ESP program, and continues to develop the program through perpetual research and analysis. Since 2014, Alan has headed trading and risk management for the ESP program. His responsibilities at Diamond Capital include assisting with risk management, research, trading, and product development.