Online Futures Trading Methods
Crystal Ball, Anyone?
One might say that there has to be some kind of mystical knowledge being used, considering the price for the commodity doesnt yet exist. Commodities are any physical, tangible goods, such as crops like corn or wheat, to oil, gold, and currency, just to name a few. The futures market has nothing to do with the use of a crystal ball, though there are many traders who wish they had one. A futures contract is a standardized contract to buy or sell a specified commodity of standardized quality at a certain date in the future, at a market determined price (the futures price). The contracts are traded on a futures exchange.
A futures contract gives the holder the obligation to make or take delivery under the terms of the contract, whereas an option grants the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to establish a position previously held by the seller of the option. Like all financial instruments, the futures market is highly regulated, but not by the SEC.
The SEC administers and enforces the federal laws that govern the sale and trading of securities, such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, but they do not regulate futures trading. The federal agency that does regulate futures trading is the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. With limited
exceptions, the trading of futures must be executed on the floor of a commodity exchange. Similar to broker-dealers that are members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or some other self-regulatory organization, all firms and individuals who trade futures with the public or give advice about futures trading must be registered with the National Futures Association (NFA).
Today, with online futures trading, we have instantaneous results which provide greater benefits for the trader. This of course results in worldwide access. Before we address possible methods, we must first recognize the players in this high stakes game of commodities.
Hedgers and Speculators
Commercial hedgers are corporations and sometime individuals, which seek to ensure the stability of a given commodity by taking a position in the commodities market. Take peas for example, and the hedger, a food processor who cans them. If pea prices go up the hedger ends up having to pay the farmer or pea dealer more. Because it is basically a cash commodity, to protect himself against higher pea prices, the processor can hedge his risk exposure by buying enough pea futures contracts to cover the amount of peas he expects to buy. Since cash and futures prices do tend to move in tandem, the futures position will profit if the price of peas rises enough to offset cash pea losses.
Speculators are the second major group of futures players. These participants include independent floor traders and investors. A speculator is a person, or more likely an institution, that purchases or sells the commodities based on factors other than simply analysis. Whereas investors will focus, by and large, on detailed analysis.
Method to the Madness
Since most individual traders are speculators, here is a list of some of the advantages and disadvantages of the futures market over other investment possibilities.
1. The possibilities exist that a person can make more money faster in the futures market, because the speed of prices tends to change faster than stocks. Conversely, bad judgment can cause one to suffer greater losses than traditional investments.
2. Futures are highly leveraged investments. The trader only puts up about 15-20% as a margin, yet still being able to ride the full amount of the contract. Unlike stocks where at least 50% of its value has to be put up, and the investor pays interest on the difference between the margin and the full contract value.
3. For the most part there is no inside trading. Everyone has the same insiders information on the weather, for example. This is an open outcry market, very public, which insures a fair outcome.
4. Commission charges on futures trades are small compared to other investments, and the investor pays them after the position is liquidated.
5. Most commodity markets are very broad and liquid. Transactions can be completed quickly, lowering the risk of adverse market moves between the time of the decision to trade and the trade's execution.
I hope this has helped in your research. I dont profess to being an expert, but I do know of some. I obviously dont have the time to go into all the details now, but at my site
Market Mentalist you will find all you need to know about investing online. There is an abundance of up to date articles and product information on
Online Futures Trading Methods. There is also access to some of the top trading systems available including software, books, newsletters, and Forums. Whether you are an inquisitive novice or a seasoned pro Market Mentalist offers the online investment resource you just might be seeking.
by: Avery Mann
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