Online Trading Account For Commodity

Aprenda a negociar e como investir em commodities como os profissionais por negociação em uma plataforma de negociação de futuros profissionais em um ambiente de negociação de futuros simulado ao vivo. Quando estiver pronto para testar sua mão na colocação de ordens comerciais, simplesmente registre-se por uma semana de acesso gratuito à nossa plataforma de negociação de futuros de simulação. Você poderá negociar 24/7, em torno do pulso de disparo sempre que nossos mercados estiverem disponíveis. Simulação em Tempo Real Negociação em negociação de opções de futuros, negociação de commodities on-line, negociação de commodities on-line, negociação on-line de futuros, negociação de futuros on-line e negociação de commodities. A maioria dos comerciantes de futuros e comerciantes de commodities têm um plano de negociação Não a maioria dos comerciantes de futuros ala. Então, o que é negociação de commodities sobre como um desconto completo online commodities trading corretores, ClearTrade Commodities como uma corretora de futuros também oferece uma assinatura gratuita para o Joss Report - um semanal commodities e consultor de comércio de futuros que inclui inovações em recomendações comerciais proprietárias. Este boletim detalhado dos bens e dos futuros é entregado a você cada domingo através do email. O relatório de Joss é preparado pelo analista técnico, Scott Joss, um comerciante de commodities veterano, comerciante de futuros com trinta e cinco anos de experiência de negociação de futuros, negociação de commodities dentro e fora do chão de negociação - como analista técnico, futuros de pit comerciante, Para Smith Barney, ex-membro da CBOT, CTA não-membro e atualmente um IB. WebOE - Auto-dirigido Online Futures Trading Platform oferece: Cleartrade Commodities corretagem oferece nossa sofisticada plataforma de negociação de futuros on-line dá comerciantes acesso a futuros comerciais em todos os principais mercados de commodities em todo o mundo. Você como um comerciante pode decidir como, quando e onde você gostaria de inserir suas ordens - WebOE é uma plataforma de futuros on-line LIVRE, que é uma solução baseada em navegador. Comerciantes de commodities e comerciantes de futuros vai encontrar a facilidade de negociação do dia Emini S P 500, futuros de ouro, futuros de petróleo bruto, futuros de euro de negociação, negociação de opções de futuros de commodities. WebOE s plataforma de negociação on-line também tem uma ferramenta de resumo de conta on-line para todos os seus negócios futuros, negociações de opções de futuros e negociações de opções de commodities. Oferecemos uma variedade de plataformas eletrônicas on-line, e muitos outros serviços que estão disponíveis em taxas de comissão de futuros de desconto. O WebOE oferece preços gratuitos de commodities, gráficos de futuros, gráficos de commodities, preços de futuros livres e preços de commodities. Ligue-nos hoje 1.773.561.9777 - ou use o nosso formulário de contato on-line conveniente. O Cleartrade, como seu corretor de commodities de desconto on-line, é projetado para atender às necessidades de todos os comerciantes de commodities - desde principiantes aprendendo como negociar futuros a comerciantes de commodities e comerciantes de commodities online experientes. Comerciantes de opções de commodities podem perguntar como negociar commodities com WebOE. Um corretor ClearTrade estará feliz em ajudá-lo e ajudará a ensinar os comerciantes a usar nossa plataforma on-line, incluindo nossas cotações de commodities gratuitas, preços de futuros e gráficos futuros. Como um comerciante de desconto auto-dirigido através da nossa plataforma de negociação on-line ou um corretor assistido comerciante, você vai negociar com a menor taxa de comissão Cleartrade oferece. ClearTrade é um profundo desconto on-line corretagem empresa de futuros, nosso site de futuros on-line foi concebido como um total de comerciantes de commodities e futuros comerciante recurso, para Commodity negociação, negociação de futuros, commodities de petróleo negociação, commodities negociação on-line ClearTrades site inclui acesso a importantes futuros financeiros relatórios e USDA relatórios de commodities, preços livres de commodities, gráficos de commodities, preços futuros futuros e gráficos de futuros: Preços de commodities para: Futuros de soja, Futuros de trigo, Futuros de milho. Grãos futuros preços commodities opção. Futuros de Currencey: Futuros do euro fx, futuros do yen japonês, preços do dólar canadense. Futuros de metais: Melhor corretor de futuros de ouro, futuros de ouro, futuros de prata, índices de futuros de cobre. Emini s p 500 futuros, Dow emini futuros, Nasdaq emini futuros, t futuros de obrigações, t note futuros. Pecuária. Meat futuros, Lean porco commodity futuros, commodities de gado vivo, Feeder Cattle preços das commodities. Energias. Comércio futuros de petróleo, futuros de petróleo, futuros de óleo de aquecimento, RBOB gasolina, futuros de gás natural. Commodities macios. Futuros de café, Futuros de algodão, Futuros de açúcar, Futuros de sumo de laranja. Preços de commodities GRÁTIS. Preços de futuros LIVRES, cartas de Commodities, cartas de Commodity LIVRES, preços de Commodities. É seu corretor de mercadoria, corretor de futuros Proactive ClearTrade Commodities se esforça para ser a melhor empresa de corretagem de commodities. Para saber mais sobre como a ClearTrade Commodities desenvolve um plano de negociação de futuros com recomendações de fututres e recomendação de commodities usando uma estratégia de negociação de futuros, por favor, ligue para 1.773.561.9777 Um de nossos executivos de conta de futuros gostaria de conversar com você sobre nossas estratégias de negociação Fututres, , Técnicas de negociação de futuros e abordagem de gerenciamento de risco de tradie de futuros que define o ClearTrade além de outros corretores de commodities e corretores de futuros. Inscreva-se agora para praticar suas habilidades de negociação de commodities on-line com uma conta de demonstração WebOE grátis A plataforma de negociação on-line Cleartrade O WebOE (Web Order Entry) é construído por comerciantes de commodities para comerciantes de futuros. O WebOE, plataforma de negociação de futuros on-line da Cleartrade e plataforma de commodities oferece acesso direto a todos os mercados ao redor do mundo e inclui preços e gráficos em tempo real gratuitos. O WebOE inclui preços gratuitos de commodities, preços de futuros livres e gráficos. ClearTrades WebOE é baseado no navegador (sem downloads necessários) para que você possa usar qualquer computador, laptop, iphone, ipad. Esta plataforma é um sistema de entrada eletrônico baseado em Internet criado para negociação de futuros on-line, negociação de commodities, negociação de opções de futuros e negociação de opções de commodities. Corretora de commodities de desconto, corretora de commodities e corretora de futuros Nós somos corretores de futuros de desconto, corretores de commodities e corretores de commodities fornecendo WebOE. Uma plataforma de negociação de futuros on-line que permite que o futuro comerciante ou desconto de futuros corretor de negociação de acesso ao mercado de futuros em desconto on-line taxas de negociação de futuros, on-line commodity opções de negociação e comércio on-line de commodities. WebOE, a melhor plataforma de negociação de futuros on-line da ClearTrade, oferece preços gratuitos de commodities, preços de futuros, opções de futuros e negociação de opções de commodities. Somos uma empresa de corretagem de futuros de desconto, limpando R. J. O Brien. Cleartrade anuncia o lançamento do Mobile Trader. Disponível para clientes da Cleartrade que utilizam um telefone iPhone ou Android, o Mobile Trader é uma aplicação segura acessível através da Apple App Store e do Google Play Discount Commodity Trading Broker, Commodities Brokers e Commodity Options Brokerage ClearTrade reconhece a necessidade de fornecer commodities broker assistida futuros negociação Ou mercadorias auto-dirigidas negociação on-line. Você, como um comerciante de futuros, comerciante de commodities ou corretor de futuros, são capazes de otimizar yourcommodity negociação através da plataforma ClearTrade WebOE (Web Order Entry), assim como um comerciante de commodities profissional. Trading commodities com ClearTrade s WebOE oferece-lhe a melhor escolha de plataformas de negociação de futuros na melhor taxa de comissão de futuros. ClearTrade Commodities: Negociação de commodities - Negociação de futuros - Trading de commodities de petróleo - Commodities Trading on-line Commodity Trading Tipos de conta Você é novo para negociação de commodities Se sim. Recomendamos que este seja um ideal on-line commodity trading conta para você. Como um comerciante de commodities brotação, você terá acesso a todas as instalações de pesquisa e negociação que são necessários para ajudá-lo a executar seus negócios com esforço. Você pode decidir o que comprar ou vender, quando comprar ou vender, etc, quer com base em sua própria pesquisa ou consultando os relatórios de pesquisa da Kotak Commodity. Se você é um comerciante experiente no mercado de commodities, recomendamos a conta de Círculo Privilege Conta de vida livre de vida, sem taxas de manutenção de conta Acesso ao KC Trader Acesso à Kotak Commodities Academy que ajuda você a aprender mais sobre mercados de commodities e negociação. Mercados de commodities, commodities selecionadas e relatório especial irá ajudá-lo a tomar decisões de investimento informado ao lidar com essas commodities Atualizações de pesquisa via Kotak Commodities Alertas SMS para que você don t perca oportunidades importantes de compra e venda testemunhado no mercado Você pode ativar Kotak Commodity Gateway Conta com margem inicial entre Rs 30.000 a Rs 5,00.000. Isso tem que ser em forma de margem de caixa apenas. É muito simples abrir uma conta comercial com o Kotak Commodities Services Ltd. Basta seguir as etapas simples mencionadas abaixo: Etapa 1: Para abrir sua conta, basta dar seus detalhes em Abrir uma conta. Ao dar os detalhes, nosso representante entrará em contato com você para completar todas as formalidades de abertura de sua conta. Você também pode nos chamar e teremos nosso representante para atendê-lo e ajudá-lo a abrir a conta. Passo 2: Informá-lo assim que sua conta É ativado por e-mail e imediatamente um kit de boas-vindas será enviado para você, e você pode começar a negociar imediatamente após a ativação de sua conta Conta abertura encargos de Rs. 750 / - Para a conta Gateway, o KC Trader está disponível a uma taxa nominal de Rs. 500 / - por mês Obter Kotak Commodities SMS Alertas Rs. 100 / - por mês Chamada Grátis para as primeiras 20 chamadas em um mês. A partir da chamada 21, você paga apenas Rs. 20 / - por chamada Um guia exaustivo para Commodities Trading O que são Commodities Ao contrário de produtos de marca, commodities são produtos que têm um preço universal em todo o mundo. O ouro, por exemplo, tem o mesmo preço por onça no Brasil e Bombaim, enquanto o preço de um forno de torradeira ou até mesmo uma camiseta varia dependendo da marca e do local em que é vendido. As mercadorias não estão estritamente limitadas aos chamados elementos puros como o ouro. Uma mercadoria pode ser refinada a partir de um elemento bruto, como o petróleo é refinado a partir de petróleo. Uma mercadoria também pode ser extraída diretamente da Terra, como um metal, ou também pode ser um produto agrícola, como ovos. Em alguns casos, uma mercadoria pode ser uma ferramenta financeira abstrata que é universal, como as flutuações nas taxas de juros. Como as commodities podem assumir tantas formas físicas diferentes, o mercado financeiro classifica-as como um grupo com base em seu valor universal e como elas são negociadas. No entanto, o comércio de commodities não se limita a trocas simples. Um conjunto completo de regras de negociação complexas, incluindo a especulação sobre futuros chamados, mantém o mercado ativo. Negociação de commodities é uma ampla categoria onde os jogadores variam de rancheiros individuais hedging preços de alimentação para a direita através de grandes casas comerciais multi-nacionais. Quão grande são as maiores casas de comércio Coloque assim: dois deles, Vitol e Trafigura, venderam um total combinado de 8,1 milhões de barris por dia de petróleo no ano passado. Isso é igual às exportações combinadas de petróleo da Arábia Saudita e da Venezuela. A Glencore, em 2010, controlava 55% do mercado mundial de zinco, e 36% do cobre. Além disso, a expansão da categoria de commodities para incluir objetos mais abstratos, como as taxas de juros é uma adição relativamente recente. Historicamente, as commodities eram baseadas em bens tangíveis comuns que poderiam ser facilmente visualizados pelo leigo. A expansão para este novo território reflete o crescimento ea ambição dos mercados financeiros cada vez mais integrados globalmente. Porque há agora mais participantes nos mercados globais, o desejo para o território financeiro novo incentivou a expansão do mercado das matérias-primas. Porque investir em Commodities Porque eles não são baseados nos lucros ou estratégias de negócios de qualquer empresa ou nação, commodities podem fazer bons investimentos, estável. O ouro, por exemplo, é uma mercadoria que não desaparecerá em breve, enquanto o estoque em uma grande empresa de automóveis pode ou não existir em outros cem anos. Além disso, alocação de ativos variada permite que um indivíduo para espalhar sua carteira financeira. Ao diferenciar os tipos de investimentos, um investidor está em grande medida a reduzir o seu risco de sofrer uma grande liquidação financeira, como todos os setores do mercado financeiro teria que desmoronar completamente para destruir sua carteira de investimentos, um cenário que seria, sem dúvida, O fim da sociedade como é atualmente conhecido. No colapso financeiro de 2008, por exemplo, várias instituições importantes faliram devido a práticas comerciais defeituosas. Os acionistas dessas instituições perderam dinheiro. No entanto, o mercado de commodities é amplamente imune a colapsos deste tipo. Pela sua própria natureza, uma mercadoria não é propriedade de qualquer entidade. As commodities podem, portanto, fornecer uma fonte confiável de renda para um investidor que gastou tempo cuidadosamente considerando que commodity ele está comprando, quando ele está comprando, e a que preço ele planeja vendê-lo. Para aqueles investidores que não estão familiarizados com as commodities, ou que estão comprando no mercado, a fim de diferenciar sua carteira, existem várias maneiras diferentes de investir no mercado de commodities. Existem índices de commodities, bolsas de commodities e vários tipos de contratos e opções de compra que permitem a um investidor financeiro experiente fazer quantias consideráveis ​​de dinheiro com base no desempenho esperado de uma determinada mercadoria. Como com qualquer empreendimento financeiro, extensa pesquisa é um pré-requisito definitivo para o investimento. As mercadorias são arriscadas Apesar de sua durabilidade inerente, existem riscos diferentes envolvidos no investimento em commodities, especialmente quando se considera os diferentes aspectos do investimento inicial, o tipo de empréstimo ou margem na qual a mercadoria é comprada e, em alguns casos, a natureza Da própria mercadoria. Embora as forças do mercado não afetem as commodities da mesma forma que elas afetam as ações, elas desempenham um papel. Se um investidor alocou uma porção significativa de sua carteira em ovos, por exemplo, e uma ferrugem biológica torna o suprimento de ovos de um mês inteiro inutilizável em um continente, a diferença entre o desempenho esperado da mercadoria e a triste realidade fará com que Investidor a perder quantidades substanciais de dinheiro, dependendo dos tipos de contratos que o investidor tem garantido. No entanto, esta não é uma perda automática para o investidor. Considere o seguinte cenário. Se a destruição biológica de ovos ocorreu na Europa, mas o investidor investiu em futuros de demanda invulgarmente altos nos Estados Unidos, o investidor realmente colherá enormes lucros com seu investimento quando a falta de oferta da Europa forçou o continente a importar ovos de outros países. A demanda significativa da Europa impulsionaria os preços dos ovos nos Estados Unidos, aumentando assim dramaticamente o desempenho do ovo em relação às expectativas padrão da indústria. Naturalmente, este cenário exige acuidade incomum e sorte por parte do investidor. Considere o cenário inverso, que é tão provável. Este mesmo investidor investiu em futuros de alta oferta de ovos na Europa. Quando a ferrugem ocorre, o suprimento cai astronomicamente. Caso o investidor tenha comprado futuros, ao contrário de opções sobre esta mercadoria, ele será obrigado a vender seu futuro em uma data pré-nomeado para um valor acordado. Quando ele tenta vender seus futuros de alta oferta de ovos europeus em um clima de enorme demanda, ele vai perder uma enorme quantidade de dinheiro porque o mercado simplesmente não corresponde aos futuros antecipados. Em cada caso, não há realmente nenhuma maneira para o investidor para saber se os ovos experimentarão alta oferta ou alta demanda na Europa quando ele compra o futuro inicial ou contrato de opção. Desta forma, as commodities podem ser um investimento arriscado, porque são propensas a desastres naturais e outros eventos que nenhum humano comum pode prever. No entanto, há sempre maneiras de mitigar o risco. Em cada versão deste cenário, o investidor escolheu futuros que exigiam que o mercado se comportasse de maneiras incomuns. Deve-se notar que os investidores podem optar por investir em commodities com uma alta volatilidade ranking para aumentar sua chance de arrecadação, mas que esta estratégia também pode sair pela culatra e resultar em enormes perdas. Muitas commodities têm baixa volatilidade rankings, e, portanto, executar de uma forma bastante previsível. Além disso, há tantas maneiras de investir em commodities, incluindo uma abordagem de curva de rendimento, onde um investidor compra o mesmo tipo de commodity com diferentes datas de vencimento futuro que um investidor experiente provavelmente será capaz de equilibrar qualquer alta volatilidade commodities com artistas mais estáveis. Um investidor também deve considerar os benefícios dos instrumentos financeiros específicos que ele usa para adquirir as commodities, como futuros versus opções. Cada um apresenta seus próprios riscos, desde o montante do investimento inicial até a data de venda acordada. Dependendo de qual instituição financeira o futuro ou a opção é comprada, um investidor pode estar sujeito a taxas de margem variável. Embora cada um desses tópicos seja explorado em profundidade nas seções subseqüentes deste guia, um investidor deve saber isso: enquanto o risco é certamente um fator no investimento em commodities, a natureza do investidor ea quantidade de informações que ele está disposto a reunir Irá determinar em grande medida o sucesso dos seus investimentos. Em outras palavras, commodities pode ser um investimento maravilhoso, mas um certo grau de risco é sempre parte de cada transação. Nada, infelizmente, está sempre totalmente garantido. Ciclos de mercadoria Ciclos de urso Embora qualquer mercadoria individual pode experimentar diferentes taxas de crescimento, tomadas como um todo commodities também pode ser descrito como experimentar ciclos de touro e ciclos de urso. Estes ciclos são provocados não apenas pelas forças de mercado da oferta e da procura, mas também por certas decisões de política por parte dos principais governos, especialmente quando se trata de normas tangíveis em matéria de flutuações e valorizações monetárias nacionais. Porque tantos governos baseiam o valor de sua moeda contra o valor da moeda de outras nações, ao contrário de um padrão de espécie tangível, tanto o ouro como a prata não desempenham o mesmo tipo de papel fundamental na economia internacional que fizeram há quarenta anos . Apesar disso, o valor flutuante de algumas commodities principais, como ouro e prata, pode influenciar como outros investidores percebem o mercado global de commodities. Se o ouro tem um preço excepcionalmente alto por onça em um determinado ano, o mercado de commodities pode ser dito para ser florescente, enquanto que se o preço cai por vários anos em uma fileira, os analistas financeiros às vezes podem usar isso para apontar para o surgimento de um urso mercado. A dificuldade em descrever o desempenho de tantos produtos diferentes como experimentar um crescimento ou retração global é que há sempre exceções à regra. O melhor preditor de um ciclo predominantemente de touro ou urso tende a ser o tamanho da população em relação à quantidade de produção. O período dos anos 80 até cerca de 2000 foi descrito como um mercado de baixa para commodities porque o crescimento da demanda não foi muito alto. Começando em 1999/2000, várias nações que anteriormente não tinham praticamente nenhum interesse mensurável em metais começaram operações de manufatura agressivas, aumentando drasticamente a demanda por metais anteriormente não valorizados, como o zinco eo cobre. Este súbito interesse em metais, consequentemente, impulsionou a demanda por ouro e prata, como os investidores interpretaram a demanda por zinco e cobre como o início de um mercado de commodities touro. Além disso, como as operações de manufatura continuaram a se expandir, o aumento da prosperidade econômica trouxe um novo grupo de consumidores, que começaram a comprar outras commodities, como ovos, em números muito maiores. O aumento da atividade de investimento, combinado com a demanda real tangível por novas populações, resultou posteriormente em um mercado real de commodities. Portanto, a quantidade de certas mercadorias é freqüentemente um preditor, ou pelo menos um indicador, desses ciclos de touro e de urso. O petróleo, por exemplo, pode freqüentemente balançar o mercado de commodities de uma forma ou de outra com base na quantidade produzida, simplesmente porque muitas outras indústrias dependem da energia que o petróleo produz inadvertidamente. Como exemplo, uma queda acentuada na produção de petróleo que resulta em preços mais altos da gasolina pode afetar o transporte de commodities agrícolas. Isso produz constrangimentos artificiais na oferta e na demanda e pode afetar os preços globais de outras commodities. No entanto, como o petróleo freqüentemente sofre flutuações em sua oferta, muitos investidores experientes e comerciantes antecipam certas flutuações sazonais e podem construir essas mudanças antecipadas da oferta / demanda em seus investimentos. Estes efeitos secundários são, portanto, uma parte um tanto previsível do mercado global. No entanto, deve-se notar que, uma vez que muitos índices de commodities fazem seu dinheiro com base nas expectativas de desempenho, uma mudança extrema na produção da quantidade de petróleo ou de outra mercadoria de alto perfil pode fazer com que o mercado de futuros atinja até ou abaixo das expectativas . Uma queda rigorosamente inesperada e rigorosa na produção de petróleo pode desencadear um mercado de alta, enquanto o excesso de oferta tende a saturar o mercado, criando um mercado de baixa renda. No entanto, embora certas commodities de alto perfil possam influenciar esses ciclos, o mercado de commodities é suficientemente variado para que apenas eventos globais verdadeiramente importantes possam afetar significativamente a demanda. Mesmo no caso de um grande evento global, como um tsunami, um setor do mercado de commodities pode cair, enquanto outro pode subir. Alguns economistas argumentaram que a economia em si gera esses ciclos, baseados não apenas em grandes eventos globais, mas também na própria oferta e demanda, mas na própria natureza do investimento. Certas teorias econômicas, como a teoria dos ciclos de Kondratieff, tentaram descrever a natureza complexa da economia global como experimentando ciclos de forma mais longa que podem ser interpretados como uma série de booms e bustos, desencadeados por certos comportamentos. Ondas de Kondratieff Os ciclos de Kondratieff são uma onda econômica de 45 a 60 anos que encapsula a tendência de uma economia capitalista de experimentar a estagnação, o crescimento, o superinvestimento, o boom e finalmente o busto. Proposta por um economista russo em 1925, os ciclos foram ligados principalmente ao padrão ouro e deflação. Devido a esta base, os ciclos não têm muitos adeptos na actual era económica devido à prevalência de ciclos económicos mais curtos e à ausência generalizada global de um padrão de moeda de base. A onda é supostamente mais fácil de visualizar internacionalmente do que em qualquer economia nacional, devido à natureza globalmente integrada do comércio e commodities. O ciclo pode ser dividido em três grandes etapas: estagnação devido ao excesso de oferta, o que leva a taxas de juros mais baixas e à segunda fase do boom especulativo, seguido pela terceira fase, um crash econômico e correspondente crise financeira. O excesso de oferta na economia é geralmente infraestrutural, como ferrovias, ou mesmo imóveis. Depois que o mercado não cresce, a redução das taxas de juros alimenta a especulação em uma nova área ou mercado, como o mercado de ações. Depois de muitas pessoas terem investido nesta nova região potencial de crescimento, este mercado experimenta um colapso espectacular e subseqüente crise financeira, levando à estagnação mais uma vez. Na descrição inicial de Nikolai Kondratieff do fenômeno, ele atribuiu importância à incidência da tecnologia como uma saída para o ciclo descendente. De acordo com essa teoria, o século 20 testemunhou uma onda de Kondratieff completa de 1930 a 1990. A depressão da década de 1930 foi finalmente revigorado pelos esforços de guerra da década de 1940, levando a um período de prosperidade durante a década de 1950 e 60, Um período de crescimento acelerado nos anos 70 e 80, e finalmente uma espiral descendente nos anos 90. A segunda onda Kondratieff teria, portanto, começado na recessão mundial de 1990-91, com efeitos de pico supostamente visíveis entre 2005 e 2015. No entanto, a crise financeira global de 2008 parece ir contra esta teoria. Se os ciclos de Kondratieff forem preditores precisos de ciclos de crescimento e de rebentamento, então uma grande onda de investimento especulativo ocorrerá dentro de alguns anos da queda. A partir de 2010, o mundo ainda está em grande parte experimentando estagnação, com alguns países, incluindo os EUA em perigo de sofrer deflação contínua. As commodities são uma parte vital do ciclo de Kondratieff, na medida em que acompanham as tendências globais deflacionárias. Quando as commodities significativas experimentam deflação rápida, isso normalmente sinaliza um iminente declínio financeiro mundial. No entanto, esta teoria é complicada pela natureza generativa rápida da tecnologia ea existência simultânea de tantas economias de alta potência. Quando Kondratieff inicialmente elaborou a teoria, a Ásia não era tão economicamente significativa para a economia mundial como é agora. Além disso, a tecnologia aumentou drasticamente a velocidade na qual ele completa um ciclo. Onde a tecnologia no século XX demorou mais para chegar a um ponto de saturação, a tecnologia no século 21 pode atingir os pontos de saturação muito mais rapidamente, mas depois gerar uma segunda onda de inovação que rapidamente suplanta o primeiro. Essa habilidade generativa rápida resulta em um setor de fato de inovação que, até agora, mostra pouco sinal de desaceleração. Esses fatores complicadores não negam necessariamente a existência de ciclos Kondratiev, mas podem exigir uma ligeira modificação para refletir realidades diferentes de uma era em que os avanços na tecnologia ocorrem a uma taxa muito mais rápida. Independentemente de o ciclo de Kondratiev dever ser encurtado ou alongado para refletir as novas tendências tecnológicas, o ciclo pode ser útil para ajudar economistas e líderes governamentais a assumirem o controle em situações onde todas as evidências apontam para a possível deflação e posterior colapso. Enquanto alguma variação é necessária em qualquer economia, os extremos podem ser evitados com a intervenção e, ocasionalmente, a implantação de alguns investimentos estratégicos. Em paralelo com o esboço geral da estagnação, do investimento e da queda financeira do ciclo de Kondratiev, o estudo dos valores das commodities em particular pode ajudar os economistas a ter uma visão mais clara do que está acontecendo na economia global. As melhores plataformas de negociação on-line para iniciantes Pros Aqueles interessados ​​em negociação de commodities têm a opção de fazê-lo online. Existem várias plataformas diferentes que oferecem diferentes níveis de suporte, dependendo da experiência do usuário individual. Cada plataforma permite aos usuários negociar em opções e futuros. Deve-se afirmar que antes de qualquer comerciante começa a negociar com dinheiro real, ele deve praticar usando somas de dinheiro prática para ver como os lucros são feitos e perdidos rapidamente. Cada plataforma de software analisada aqui permite aos comerciantes a opção de prática corre com entrada de mercado real para obter uma melhor idéia para este processo. IB Direct Razor Trader Futures é um excelente site para aqueles investidores que não têm uma quantidade substancial de experiência com commodities trading. Além de oferecer uma demonstração de negociação gratuita, o site também permite que os membros conversem com um representante on-line, e tem um centro de aprendizado arquivado que pode rapidamente trazer novatos até a velocidade. O software on-line também fornece cotações instantâneas e pesquisa de mercado, e permite aos usuários negociar futuros e opções. Esta plataforma é melhor para iniciantes, principalmente porque é tão fortemente focada em educar o usuário. A Plataforma Trader de serviços on-line é excelente para investidores intermediários e avançados. Este site específico oferece aos usuários inúmeras opções específicas de software on-line, dependendo dos tipos de comércio que desejam fazer. O software é hospedado por Optimus Trading Group, que fornece comissões para os comerciantes ativos que tirar o máximo proveito do pacote de software. Trader s Platform é recomendado para comerciantes profissionais porque é projetado especificamente para sincronizar com plataformas de negociação eletrônica comumente usadas, incluindo a CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) e pit negociados mercados. Enquanto o suporte está disponível, o software é orientado para uma rápida configuração e execução. Trader s Plataforma também fornece acesso a pessoal de suporte conhecedor, seja por telefone ou através de mensagens instantâneas on-line. Clear Trade é voltado principalmente para os profissionais, embora usuários intermediários e até mesmo iniciantes que aprendam rapidamente podem se beneficiar deste conjunto de software. Clear Trade fornece aos usuários a atualização automática de links de vários boletins aclamados de corretores de commodities. Embora esses pronunciamentos devem ser tomadas como um conselho e não como diretrizes rígidas, eles podem ser úteis para os comerciantes que gostam de receber atualizações periódicas sobre o status do mercado. A Clear Trade possui uma extensa lista de materiais arquivados em vários formatos diferentes, desde vídeos até gráficos, até sessões de negociação simuladas que permitem que os novos usuários tenham uma idéia da série de negócios com ritmo rápido e muitas vezes aparentemente complexa que classifica uma sessão de negociação de commodities típica. Além disso, a Clear Trade tem vários programas pré-programados específicos de commodities, como Soybean and Grain, ou Euro e Currency trading. Cada investidor deve escolher a plataforma com base em como ele atrai para eles pessoalmente. A plataforma deve ser fácil de ler em uma tela, e deve ter indicadores que fazem sentido para esse indivíduo. Felizmente, a maioria das plataformas de topo tem versões de teste gratuitas que permitirão aos usuários provar rapidamente o layout básico ea apresentação do software antes de se inscreverem ou se comprometerem com uma versão totalmente paga do software. Para os comerciantes experientes, comparando a quantidade de compensação que uma determinada plataforma oferece será um fator chave para decidir qual plataforma para usar em última instância. Essas taxas variam de acordo com o período específico em que o investidor individual escolhe começar, seu nível de experiência e a acuidade financeira que demonstram em suas operações iniciais. Investir em índices de commodities Os índices de commodities rastreiam uma variedade de diferentes commodities. Determinados fundos de índices de commodities, como o Power Shares DB Commodity Index. Ganhar dinheiro investindo em derivativos de commodities, ou a probabilidade de que uma mercadoria vai aumentar ou diminuir em valor. Quando um índice de commodities de base ampla tem um dia ruim, isso ocorre porque o futuro das commodities em que ele optou por investir não funcionou de acordo com as expectativas, o que diminui o valor geral do próprio índice. O Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index reflete somente os movimentos de preços de futuros e trata de set commodities negociadas em bolsas norte-americanas, excluindo zinco, alumínio e níquel. Esses três metais são negociados apenas na Bolsa de Metais de Londres. O retorno total do índice de commodities Dow Jones-UBS é uma medida do índice Dow Jones UBS Commodity e deve ser lido como uma medida de retorno sobre posições de futuros totalmente garantidas. Em termos matemáticos, o último Dow Jones Commodity Index é a medida da segunda derivada, enquanto o primeiro é a primeira derivada. Investir em índices é diferente de negociar diretamente em commodities. Em vez de um investimento tangível direto, investir em um índice exige suposições sobre a probabilidade de uma certa flutuação de preços ao longo de um período de tempo definido. Estas flutuações de preços e o período em que elas podem ou não ocorrer também variam, de modo que cada investimento é essencialmente uma aposta matemática altamente complexa que considera nominalmente o preço real da mercadoria como um fator, e pode ocasionalmente ser categorizada Como sendo mais especulativo do que definitivo. Como os índices de commodities podem influenciar outras atividades de negociação, suas ações podem, ocasionalmente, despertar acusações de causar flutuações inadequadas de preços. Como exemplo: em 2009, o Subcomitê Permanente de Investigações do Senado dos Estados Unidos lançou uma investigação sobre o investimento em índices de commodities e seu impacto nos futuros de trigo em relação aos preços reais do trigo. Em essência, o comitê informou que o investimento em futuros de trigo exagerado havia aumentado artificialmente os preços dos futuros do trigo muito além da realidade real dos preços tangíveis do trigo. Um relatório separado conduzido pela universidade de Vanderbilt refutou esta afirmação, observando que tal indicação é inerente difícil provar devido aos fatores numerosos que influenciam preços, including a convergência freqüente dos futuros do trigo e dos preços do trigo. No entanto, isso não deve necessariamente dissuadir os investidores de se envolverem no mercado. Um investidor pode escolher um índice de commodities que tem um histórico bastante sólido e opções de compra ou futuros de provável desempenho geral do mercado. Investir em um índice geralmente produzirá uma taxa de retorno mais elevada para o investidor individual, simplesmente porque o índice foi estruturado para sobreviver a altos e baixos do mercado. A maioria dos investidores escolher um índice como um método rápido de diversificação de sua carteira sem ter que gastar uma quantidade substancial de tempo pesquisando o desempenho individual de uma determinada mercadoria. Além disso, investir em um índice de commodities é quase um método infalível de evitar a inflação, um problema que aflige a maioria das ações, títulos e outros ativos tradicionais. Em termos de escolher um índice específico no qual investir, selecionar um índice que está no mercado há vários anos é a melhor maneira de garantir um retorno excelente e fornecer uma cobertura inflacionária. Como funcionam as trocas de mercadorias Exemplos de trocas de commodities incluem o Chicago Board of Trade. A Chicago Mercantile Exchange. A Kuala Lumpur Futures Exchange, a London Metal Exchange. E a Bolsa Mercantil de Nova York. Os Estados Unidos têm cinco das dez principais bolsas de commodities do mundo. Cada uma dessas trocas foi fundada para proporcionar maior liquidez aos vendedores e compradores, mas a troca em si não tem qualquer valor. Em outras palavras, é um fórum para o comércio e, embora tenha certas diretrizes que devem ser seguidas pelos seus membros, o próprio câmbio não defende um comércio em particular sobre outro. O objetivo principal das bolsas de commodities é desenvolver esses regulamentos e evitar que o mercado se torne demasiado caótico. Aqueles que negociam no chão de câmbio devem ser membros. Todas as principais decisões que afetam o funcionamento ea regulamentação do intercâmbio são geralmente feitas por um voto do órgão membro. A bolsa em si é dividida em administração, que é operado por uma equipe paga, eo próprio andar de negociação em si, que é povoada por comerciantes. Os comerciantes procedem a fazer lances e ofertas sobre cartões comerciais. As ofertas são feitas por compradores, e são compreendidas de uma soma específica para uma quantidade específica de uma mercadoria particular. As ofertas são feitas por vendedores, e lista um preço para uma quantidade específica de uma mercadoria. Ambas as propostas e ofertas são anunciadas ao ar livre do anel comercial central. Quando um lance e uma oferta combinam, um comércio é feito oficialmente e gravado pelo registrador do poço. Esta informação é afixada em uma placa grande na era eletrônica moderna, esta informação é emitida imediatamente para fora a todos os comerciantes em linha afiliados também. Todos os negócios devem ser resolvidos antes do início do próximo dia de negociação. Todas as informações relacionadas ao comércio, incluindo as partes envolvidas, o preço do comércio eo período em que o comércio foi feito, são registrados no cartão. A maioria das bolsas de mercadorias funciona permitindo que os comerciantes troquem contratos futuros, ou contratos a termo, como eram inicialmente conhecidos. O procedimento é o mesmo para um contrato de futuros como para uma mercadoria. Neste caso, a oferta e a oferta de futuros devem incorporar as datas de venda eo preço a que a negociação será feita no futuro. Algumas mercadorias só podem ser trocadas em certas trocas. As duas maiores bolsas de commodities dos EUA são a Chicago Board of Trade ea Chicago Mercantile Exchange, que em conjunto representam aproximadamente 80% de todo o volume comercializado nos EUA. A segunda maior bolsa do mundo é a London International Financial Futures e Options Exchange. Ou LIFFE. A maioria das trocas nos EUA é regulada pelo Commodity Exchange Act de 1974. O que são Futuros e Opções (Usando análise técnica) Futuros são uma data de venda acordada para uma quantidade de uma determinada mercadoria em um determinado momento. Opções são semelhantes a um contrato de futuros, com a exceção de que um comprador não é obrigado a agir nos termos do acordo inicial, mas ainda mantém o direito de fazê-lo, se ele optar. Novos investidores devem estar cientes de que existem também opções de futuros e futuros contratos, que são duas entidades distintas. Para usar a terminologia tradicional, opções de futuros são essencialmente opções, e futuros contratos são essencialmente futuros. Como esta terminologia pode ser usada de forma intercambiável, é uma boa idéia estar ciente de como esses conceitos são descritos quando entramos pela primeira vez no mercado de negociação. Os futuros são ligeiramente mais arriscados do que as opções, principalmente porque os futuros exigem uma ação, enquanto as opções permitem mais equívocos e ajustes às atuais tendências do mercado. Naturalmente, quanto maior o risco envolvido, maior o retorno potencial, ou vice-versa, maior será a perda potencial. Deve-se notar que as opções de compra geralmente incorre em um prêmio, que é a taxa que o comerciante ganha a partir da transação. Esse prêmio é baseado no risco relativo da transação. Essas transações que quase certamente provar ser rentável levar um prêmio correspondentemente elevado aqueles que são susceptíveis de falhar geralmente têm um prémio inferior. As opções são geralmente classificadas em chamadas e puts. Uma opção de compra indica que um investidor acredita que uma mercadoria em particular aumentará em valor ao longo de um período de tempo definido. Uma opção de venda, por outro lado, indica que o investidor sente que a mercadoria será menor em valor ao longo de um período de tempo definido. Em ambos os casos, um preço de exercício é definido no momento da compra da opção. O investidor tem a opção de fechar ou converter a opção antes da data de validade definida. Muitos investidores optam por permitir que suas opções para fechar, em vez de convertê-los. Eles então coletam o lucro subseqüente. Futuros, por outro lado, são menos flexíveis. Tanto o comprador como o vendedor devem fornecer a mercadoria acordada ao preço pré-acordado, independentemente de mudanças no mercado ou flutuações. Se 6.000 bushels de trigo são prometidos em 5 por bushel durante um período de um ano, os termos não podem mudar até que o contrato de futuros é cumprido. Estas duas posições são geralmente conhecidas como a posição curta ea posição longa. A posição curta é mantida pelo provedor da mercadoria a posição longa é realizada pelo receptor da mercadoria. Um contrato de futuros é avaliado em função do desempenho real do mercado e liquidado em dinheiro no final de cada dia de negociação. Como exemplo, se a posição curta concordar em fornecer o trigo a 5 um bushel, mas o preço do trigo no mercado muda para 6, a posição curta acaba de perder um dólar em cada alqueire de trigo em comparação com o que ele poderia ganhar em O mercado aberto, enquanto a posição longa acaba de poupar um dólar em cada alqueire de trigo em comparação com o que ele poderia comprá-lo para no mercado aberto. No final de cada dia de negociação, cada parte terá sua conta debitada ou creditada dependendo do desempenho do mercado até o contrato de futuros expirar. No entanto, a maior parte dos contratos de futuros não envolvem a entrega efectiva de elementos tangíveis, mas fornecem um meio de assumir uma posição financeira numa possível transacção. Para muitas commodities, dependendo da posição que o investidor adota e do subseqüente desempenho do mercado, os contratos de futuros são uma excelente maneira de garantir uma fonte de renda. Tendências mundiais de energia Durante várias décadas, o petróleo e seus produtos derivados do petróleo têm sido a principal fonte de energia para o globo. No entanto, o aumento do consumo combinado com um suprimento finito de petróleo estão trabalhando juntos para produzir um futuro onde novas fontes de energia são necessárias. Vários tipos de energia, incluindo energia eólica e solar, têm sido defendidos como sendo capazes de compensar a eventual queda curta na produção de petróleo. Unfortunately, both of these methods of energy production still have a few kinks to work out before they will operate smoothly. In the case of wind power, the turbines themselves are currently constructed in such a way that they must be placed in areas that have a high occurrence of natural wind. There are very few areas on the Earth s surface which are perpetually windy, constraining the amount of turbines that can produce electricity. Additionally, wind turbines can be exceptionally noisy, making it difficult to install them near residential areas without bothering the people who live nearby. Solar power is currently in a very crude stage of development. The photovoltaic panels that make up a typical solar panel work by absorbing the sun s energy and then changing it into electricity. Unfortunately, solar panels currently are only able to produce a very low percentage of energy compared to their total surface area. At least a dozen or more solar panels are needed in order to supply power to a single family home. However, photovoltaic technology is constantly evolving. There is no reason that with concerted effort, the photovoltaic conversion will continue to produce higher yields of usable energy. Many countries, including both the U. S. and Morocco, are investing or already have invested in large scale solar energy fields in deserts such as the Mojave and the Sahara. By staking out land specifically for each of these energy developments, the countries are boldly stating their intent to refine and hopefully increase the yields of this technology. It should be noted that as of 2000, roughly 6 of Morocco s electricity was being provided by solar panels. Meanwhile, nuclear energy has always been controversial. Although the majority of nuclear power plants function without any errors or malfunctions, whenever something does go wrong, it tends to do so on a major scale that ruins the surrounding community for years. In the 1980 s, several nuclear power plant disasters, including Chernobyl in Russia and the Love Canal in the U. S. Northeast resulted not only in the loss of life, but also produced devastating political consequences for the technology. As an energy resource, the addition of new nuclear power plants will remain a hard sell for the next several decades at least. In terms of automobiles, there are several companies including Tesla Motors which are manufacturing all electric vehicles. The idea of electric hybrid vehicles, which use part gas and part electricity to power themselves, has become popular with major automotive manufacturers including Toyota, Chevy, and Nissan. These hybrid vehicles have sold well, but they rely on lithium ion battery technology which has its own energy downsides. The batteries themselves are energy intensive to manufacture, and currently require recharging on a very frequent basis. However, much in the way of photovoltaic panels, the batteries have shown significant improvement from generation to generation. If the batteries continue to develop, there is no reason to believe that eventually they will be able to replace the need for gasoline altogether. Overall, worldwide energy trends are in a state of flux, and can be a boon for investors who enjoy the uncertainty of trading in an environment with so much promise and so little certainty. Trading Oil Because oil is now widely regarded as limited resource, there is very little doubt that the price will continue to rise. However, this does not mean that trading oil as a commodity is a foregone conclusion in terms of an individual being able to amass significant profits. This is partially because no one is certain precisely when the oil will run out, and also because there are so many other energy resources currently competing with oil that it is possible that oil may, at some distant point in the future, begin to become a secondary source of energy. Those who trade in oil should familiarize themselves with the basics. Oil is sold in 42 gallon barrels. The price of oil refers to the price of an individual barrel, even though oil is sold per gallon on the open market. The Chicago Mercantile exchange now allows individuals to trade in 500 barrel installments, instead of the traditional 1,000 barrel contracts. At the New York Mercantile Exchange, individual investors may invest 5 on a 1,000 barrel contract. Additionally, there are commodities funds and pools that allow fractional investment. Both Oppenheimer and Pimco are commodities pools that offer this smaller type of investment. Increasing demand from India and China during the last decade has dramatically spiked prices. Both of these nations are currently in the throes of enormous economic growth, and will probably not slow down their consumption any time soon. The oil supply itself is currently limited to known oil fields, which are tightly controlled by agencies such as OPEC. Undeveloped oil fields are currently not as viable for use as once thought. Undersea drilling, for example, is exceptionally dangerous. The 2010 BP oil spill off the coast of Louisiana was at least the second spill of its kind in two decades, with another enormous spill occurring in the Gulf of Mexico in the late 1970 s. These types of oil spills are harmful not only to the environment, but also do not produce a reliable source of energy, especially when compared to land-based oil drilling operations. The equipment frequently breaks or malfunctions in the deep sea, and repairing and replacing this equipment, as demonstrated by the BP oil spill, is a months-long process that is still poorly understood. Relying on undersea drilling to sustain the world s oil needs is foolhardy at best, and desperate at worst. The so-called untapped fields in Alaska will probably not be developed because of political pressures to keep this part of the Earth unspoiled. Additionally, the territory itself is not necessarily ideal for drilling, simply because the weather is extreme and the landscape so fragile that any accidents or equipment malfunctions have disastrous effects on their surroundings, much like the BP oil spill. Those who are interested in trading in oil should pay close attention to the behavior of the economies of the developing nations outlined above, in addition to the energy development policies of industrialized nations that are now seeking alternative sources of energy. While the trend in oil prices appears to be headed upward, each of these factors will influence the percentage growth and rate of change of the price of oil. Additionally, conglomerates such as OPEC often artificially constrain the supply of oil in order to increase their profits. The complexity of these factors, in addition to the relatively recent ability of smaller investors to take part in oil trading, will keep the growth of this particular sector moving forward, but in uneven spurts. Larger economic pressures from other countries may also force certain developing nations to slow their growth, which could prompt a sudden drop-off in oil consumption, leading to a surprise halt to rising prices. This scenario is highly unlikely, simply because it is very difficult to completely discourage growth, especially when several billion people are already in motion. It is worth mentioning here primarily because the world is attempting to create a stable global economy. China s unprecedented growth is threatening to overtake the U. S. s economy, which could shift the direction of energy policy worldwide. Intriguingly, China has green energy policies which may actually reduce its consumption on oil after it has finished experiencing the tremendous infrastructural growth that is currently fueling its need for so much oil. Either way, oil will be a heavily desirable commodity for at least the next few decades. Eric Janszen s Peak Cheap Oil is a great read which highlights how oil demand may interlock with economic activity going forward. Trading Natural Gas Natural gas makes up a significant portion of global energy consumption. In 2002, it accounted for 23 of the world s energy consumption. However, especially when compared to oil, natural gas is a far more volatile commodity. Unlike oil, natural gas has fewer storage facilities, meaning that when the major supplier experiences a short fall, there are far fewer reserves to help ride out the gap. However, natural gas is generally not impacted by as many complex worldwide forces as oil, making the determination of the price a far simpler affair. Natural gas is produced from both oil fields and natural gas fields, which are located primarily in Western Asia and Eurasia. Natural gas produced from oil fields is referred to as casing head gas. The South Pars Gas Field in Iran and the Russian Urengoy field are considered to be the two largest fields in existence. Qatar is estimated to have some 25 trillion cubic meters of natural gas reserves, while Russia, Iran and Qatar have approximately 58 of all known natural gas reserves. In the U. S. major natural gas suppliers include Allegheny Energy, Nicor, and Chesapeake Energy. Natural gas is measured in cubic feet, and generally is referred to in billions of cubic feet. The price of natural gas tends to be determined by how much is in storage, measured against total demand. Generally, when the overall amount of natural gas dips, the price soars correspondingly, when the overall amount of natural gas in storage rises, the price falls. The United States releases a report every Thursday afternoon (Friday afternoon if the previous Monday was a bank holiday) put out by the Energy Information Administration listing the total amount of natural gas in storage. This figure will be in billions of cubic feet. In 2006, two major hedge funds went out of business due to poor decisions on natural gas trades. Both MotherRock Energy Fund and Amaranth hedge funds were destroyed by poor choices in natural gas futures. MotherRock lost 200 million dollars Amaranth lost 3 billion. The lesson to be learned from these particular disasters is that investing in natural gas requires the formulation of a solid risk management strategy. A diverse portfolio is the best method of guaranteeing investment success. This volatility with trading in natural gas is partially due to the comparison between the total natural gas storage figure that market analysts estimate, and the actual figure released by the Energy Information Administration. Prior to the release of the official figure, market prices trade based on what analysts say. When the actual figure is released, the difference between the two has a major impact on the actual price. For example: if traders expect a rise of 60 billion cubic feet, but the rise is actually 20 billion cubic feet, the price of natural gas will actually increase substantially over market predictions, making it a rewarding day for natural gas traders. If, however, the increase is substantially more than traders expect, such as 100 billion cubic feet, then the price will fall because there is far more than expected, making it a bad day for a natural gas trader. In the past, a barrel of oil tended to sell at roughly 8 to 12 times as much as the equivalent amount of natural gas. As of March 2009, this ratio has increased to approximately 23 times as much. This is partially due to natural gas suffering a significant price drop in March 2008 due to problems with demand. Currently, there is so much natural gas that U. S. stockpiles are completely full. However, natural gas is not completely immune to complex international relationships. India and China may begin to utilize more natural gas in the same way that they have already utilized more oil. Additionally, there has long been the potential for something called LNG, or liquefied natural gas, which would require building an entirely new infrastructure for storage, and would impact the supply and demand ratios of natural gas. No one is entirely certain how this would impact the market, adding yet more volatility to an already highly unpredictable commodity. Trading on Alternative Energy Trends Trading on alternative energy trends is far more difficult than trading either oil or natural gas, simply because so little is known about them. In fact, many experts are currently arguing whether some alternative energy trends can even qualify as commodities. Part of this difficultly lies in specifically classifying the alternative energy into familiar commodity language. Solar panels, for example, can be described as being a price per watt cog. Trading in solar panels therefore means they must be described in terms of how many watts they generate. As discussed previously in this guide, solar panels are currently in a growth period where each new generation of photovoltaic panels produces more electricity than its previous generation. Trying to trade in solar panels as a commodity is therefore complicated by the fact that the technology is still not uniform, or even at its zenith in terms of production. However, because they are still developing, alternative energy trends are best traded in those areas where they already have a strong market presence. In India, for example, large solar photovoltaic arrays, such as the proposed Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, make trading in solar panel futures a more realistic venture. Because solar panels can either be bought privately or installed by large governments, the market has yet to find a good stable center. With increased interest from large governments around the globe, solar panels show promise as a viable commodity, as soon as a uniform watt production standard is adopted. A similar problem confronts wind energy. How does one effectively measure wind energy The production of watts seems the easiest answer, but as discussed before wind energy has a somewhat scatter shot approach to production. Certain areas can produce high amounts of wind energy, while other areas can produce very little. The turbine technology itself will undoubtedly undergo more refinement as problems with the technology, such as the amount of noise it produces, motivate the producers to streamline and redesign their equipment. Luckily, wind energy is getting increased attention from major players. General Electric has announced plans to spend 200 million for new wind turbines in Brazil as part of a larger 500 million investment in new energy research in that country. This type of development is very promising for interested and adventuresome traders, although it holds virtually no certainty. The GE center could either produce tremendous amounts of wind energy, or only manage the somewhat lackluster results seen in other countries. As commodities, both wind energy and solar power currently hold enormous potential but very little actual traction. For those investors with long term vision, this could be viewed as a wonderful opportunity to buy into a market which, in a few decades, will produce incredible returns. When viewed from a year to year futures perspective, however, both wind energy and solar power have fairly low returns, simply because they are both still developing their full roster of capabilities. To make trading in these areas worthwhile, investors should be prepared to stay on top of all developing news stories, and be prepared to champion innovation at the cost of reliable profits or an impressively performing portfolio. Researching Top Energy Companies Researching the top energy companies in the globe can be an exceptionally interesting affair. This is due to the constant developments in energy use and, in some cases, energy mis-use. In 2009, for example, the top ten energy companies in the world included BP. Very few investors would have predicted the enormous oil spill a year later which sunk the company into financial turmoil, due in part to the justified but heavy financial penalties placed upon it by the U. S. government. While BP is still a major player, it has many hurdles to overcome to realize its full profit potential. In essence, any investor who chooses to research energy companies should take into account how quickly the world situation can change, and how these changes can impact the standing or ranking of a particular energy company. While oil spills can tarnish the public reputation of a company like BP, these events may or may not ultimately impact its long term performance among the financial community. An excellent example of this is the oil company Exxon Mobil, which despite receiving a deluge of bad press and public opinion after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, has continued to prosper as one of the top energy companies in the world. The emergence of new, powerful markets and nations, such as those of China and India, also has a tremendous impact on what companies qualify as top energy produces. PetroChina, for example, was ranked as one of the top energy companies in 2009. Royal Dutch Shell, GdF Suez, Statoil, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, BG, Occidental, RWE, and Halliburton also qualify as some of the top energy companies in the world. The best way to begin the research is to first identify a specific sector of energy. Fossil fuels, for example, comprise a slightly different market than alternative fuels, or electricity. Enormous companies that claim world dominance may not be the sort of energy companies that make the best investment or trade for an individual, depending on the expertise and experience of that particular individual. If an investor has an unusual amount of experience with electricity, for example, it will make very little sense for that investor to research BP, which is primarily an oil company. However, if the investor s aim is to simply identify those companies that constitute the largest energy companies in the world, then it is relatively easy to call up lists online that name off the usual suspects, whose brand names dominate street corners and penthouse boardrooms the world over. Whatever direction the research eventually takes, all potential traders should be careful to factor in the issue of timeliness. Any lists compiled will only be as good as the time period in which they are assembled. As natural gas trades demonstrate, power multi-billion dollar companies and firms can be toppled overnight by poor business decisions. While many energy companies have a certain longevity due to years of experience in their fields, there is no such thing as a guarantee of stability in commercial and business affairs. Any list will undoubtedly expire before long. Therefore, an investor or potential trader would be wise to restrict his research to no more than five energy companies. By delving deeply into the history of these individual companies, the trader will have a better idea of how that company is likely to fare in the future based on previous business decisions. Naturally, the research should also take into account the current management team, their years of experience on the job, and their overall outlook and direction. In some cases, a long-term management team will be unable to adapt to a more competitive marketplace, while in other cases a company helmed by a relative newcomer will have very little traction in a market dominated by a much older mindset. Additionally, seemingly small scale changes in trading policies, such as allowing smaller investors access to oil futures, gradually affect the decision making process of the upper tiers of energy companies. Many corporations attempt to placate or reward their shareholders and stakeholders. When the makeup of this group gradually changes, the policies and decisions of the management team will invariably begin to adapt to the new demographic. Frequently, the top companies that manage to survive for decades have a tight inner circle of shareholders and stakeholders who share the same mentality. In times of transition, however, companies do well to incorporate newer modes of thinking and take in new partners. The 21st century has so far been categorized by extremes, and a reaction to constantly shifting trends in technology and energy use. The top energy companies will likely be those that manage not only to respond to these constantly changing trends, but also provide some kind of guidance or direction for them. Trading Precious Metals Industrial Metals Trading Gold Gold is traded by the troy ounce, usually on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Gold can be traded in futures contracts or as a futures option. The gold that is traded is in bullion form i. e. unlike jewelry, which utilizes different karats of gold, traded gold is conceptually as pure as possible. However, no gold is ever 100 pure, due to the reality of how gold forms. The history of gold trading is long and storied. It has never lost its intrinsic idea of value, which is to say that every culture that has ever encountered it has always placed some form of worth upon it. However, in the commodities market, gold has experienced extensive peaks and valleys depending on the overall perceived bear or bull market of the commodities sector in general. As an example, in the early 1980 s, gold traded for a few hundred dollars an ounce, whereas in 2010, gold was trading for roughly 1300 an ounce. Although inflation plays some role in the literal difference between these two prices (in other words, 300 dollars in 1980 would be equivalent to far more in 2010 dollars), a perceived boost in commodities, or bull market, helped push gold higher over this time span. Additionally, gold is a valued trading commodity because it is an excellent hedge against inflation. In many ways, gold is the essential commodity, remaining powerful and desirable despite the fluctuations of outside markets and governments. The increased value of gold on the commodities market in recent years may be due to a feeling of increasing uncertainty among many people in regards to the choice of many governments to use purely paper currency in lieu of a solid standard for their currency. While the gold standard was previously in place as a way for governments to guarantee the worth of their currency, this standard was abandoned after the amount of debt and corresponding currency actually outstripped the known supplies of gold in the world. Gold, therefore, occupies a unique position. In some ways, it is a kind of bullet-proof form of value should world currencies rapidly deflate. Simultaneously, it can never actually replace currency because it is too rare. Gold s future value will therefore heavily depend on how it is perceived against the relative strength of world currency. Should world currency suddenly develop solidity and the ability to more effectively regulate its peaks and valleys in comparison to other world currencies, the value of gold as a hedge against inflation will not be as valuable as in a time of extreme fluctuation and uncertainty. However, even in a scenario where paper currency manages to stabilize, gold will always possess a certain unquantifiable allure. Those who are interested in investing in gold futures should take care to monitor financial reports. Because futures contracts are limited, securing a price at which significant profit can be made will require understanding the miniscule fluctuations of the market, and the likelihood of gold managing to either retain its high value at a certain time. As with all commodities investment, there is no one method of accurate prediction. It is as much an art form as an investment tool. Trading Silver Like gold, silver is traded in troy ounces, and generally has a standard contract size of 5,000 ounces for most trading exchanges. Unlike gold, silver has a far lower price per ounce, making it eminently more affordable for those metals traders who are new to the market. Although silver has experienced a significant up tick in its pricing in the last decade due to an overall bull commodities market, it has a traditional price of that hovers somewhere around 15 an ounce, as compared with gold s 1300 dollar an ounce average. Price fluctuations in silver are measured in ticks, which has a minimum baseline of 0.005 per troy ounce. In order to make investing easier, many futures and options allow investments of 5 . As an example: a 5,000 ounce allotment of silver at 15 dollars an ounce is equivalent to a 75,000 dollar investment. This is obviously quite substantial, and makes the need for smaller increments more understandable. Trading silver, as with trading of virtually any commodity, requires opening an account with a broker that is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. An interested trader may then trade online via one of the software platforms already reviewed in the relevant section of this guide, using practice money to begin the process. Like gold, silver s primary appeal is that it is largely resistant to traditional inflationary swings. Although it has a much lower value than gold, silver makes for a good, steady earner for those who are willing to invest for a long time. Options may be especially beneficial as opposed to futures contracts for those who are interested in learning how silver performs over time. Because it is not as highly valued as gold, silver tends to have a slightly more predictable trajectory, although, as has been stated numerous times in this guide, nothing is ever absolutely for certain. It is safe to note that silver will also inevitably have an appeal for centuries to come, and therefore makes an excellent investment for those who are willing to track its progress carefully. Silver is generally traded on the COMEX, or Commodity Exchange of New York, which is a smaller section of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Silver futures can also be traded on the Chicago Board of Trade. These two exchanges are now owned by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Traders also have the option of buying e-mini futures, which are contracts dealing with 1,000 ounce allotments of silver. Traders may be able to buy these e-mini futures on margin. Again, buying on margin can pose its own difficulties, especially if an unpredictable turn suddenly plunges the trader into enormous, unexpected debt. All traders should be prepared to lose all of their initial investment. Those looking to make quick profits should not invest in commodities if they can t afford to lose money. Generally, silver futures can be purchased for a maximum of almost 2 years, or 23 months, in advance of their required sell date. Trading Platinum Platinum, a highly refined but gorgeous metal, is one of the most expensive commodities on the market, trumping even gold. The average price of platinum is approximately 1600 a troy ounce. South Africa is currently one of the single largest producers of platinum. Platinum s high value is based partly on its natural rarity, and partly on an unprecedented amount of demand for the metal to be used not only in jewelry, but in consumer goods as well. Platinum has an exceptional durability. Egyptian funeral coffins have been discovered which bear platinum ornaments with perfect luster and finish after nearly 3000 years underground. Platinum does not tarnish, and is one of the hardest yet aesthetically pleasing metals known to man. Additionally, platinum can be used in numerous industrial processes because it transmits energy exceptionally well. All of this is important to know when attempting to get involved in trading platinum. Each of these factors influences how valuable platinum will potentially become, especially as different sectors of the economy continue to grow at remarkable rates, requiring even more platinum for their various processes. Where gold has already essentially proven its value, and is a known quantity in terms of both its beauty and industrial, aesthetic, and practical uses, platinum is still displaying incredible versatility and ability in a variety of unexpected applications. This potential for growth makes it an incredibly exciting metal in which to invest and trade, because the market for it is still being defined. In terms of price horizons, no one can honestly say how far platinum will go. Currently, the automotive sector is one of the heaviest users of platinum, with a 43 usage rate. Jewelry utilizes roughly 23 of the world s supply, while petroleum refining is responsible for an additional 3 . As has been discussed in this guide, shifting energy policies may require the design of entirely different automotive model, which could in turn either place a greater or lesser demand on platinum use in automotive applications. Platinum has also become increasingly popular for use with computers and other technological devices. This particular area is poised to continue to grow in the next few decades, especially as nations such as India and China develop a larger and more affluent consumer class who will be able to afford more personal computing devices. Because technology has increasingly become more personalized, the demand for platinum could easily outstrip even the most wild and seemingly inflated estimates. However, a general worldwide economic retraction could just as easily cause platinum prices to drastically fall. Unlike other precious metals which are more insulated from industrial shifts, platinum s value is more closely tied to industrial output. As has been seen in the last decade alone, major industries, such as the U. S. car industry, can suffer enormous downturns, only to rebound in spectacular fashion. Since platinum s value is heavily pegged to the performance of these and other industries, any investor or trader must keep a watchful eye on certain key sectors in order to better estimate the profitable likelihood of a particular futures contract or option. Trading Steel Although steel is a metal, it is not traded in the same way that precious metals are traded. Instead of troy ounces, steel is traded via metric tons. The size of the steel itself can vary from 100 millimeters to 200 millimeters when it is classified in bar form. Generally, steel must be refined from raw iron ore. The specific recipe and refinement process varies depending on the type of steel: there is dirty steel, shear steel, Bessemer steel, blister steel, crucible steel and electric steel, among others. However, the refinement process is labor intensive and requires resources such as water and carbon. Steel futures are traded on six exchanges: the London Metal Exchange, the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange, the CME Group, the Shanghai Futures Exchange, the Indian National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange, and the Multi Commodity Exchange of India. China, the U. S. and Japan are currently the largest producers of steel in the world. India is ranked eighth. India s production of steel accounts for approximately 3 of the world s total. Steel futures have become a reality since 2008, although it was not without some degree of political difficulty. There were numerous objections from producers that increased future contracts would artificially inflate the market. Luckily, the types of price discrepancies and disruptions that can occur as a side effect of rampant speculative futures trading have not yet materialized in the steel futures market. The London Metal Exchange has been vigilant in guiding steel futures. In 2010, steel futures received additional volume, increasing to roughly 1,228,890 metric tons. The price of steel has stabilized after two major trading contracts, the Mediterranean and the Far East, were merged into one comprehensive, global steel contract. There are also now three delivery points in the United States: Chicago, Detroit and New Orleans. However, steel is extremely susceptible to swings in industry and construction. Because steel is primarily used in large buildings, when construction grinds to a halt, then the price of steel correspondingly drops. While new building projects have suffered a downturn with the larger economy in 2008, several countries are still experiencing unprecedented infrastructural growth, fueling their need for increased steel. As a building material, steel has a long future, and in this way makes a reasonable commodity investment. However, because the steel futures market is still so relatively young and untested, there is no track record for how well it will perform over the next few decades. While the exchanges have kept the price of steel futures at a steady and improving pace, small fluctuations and dips are beginning to appear which reflect an overall global slowdown. Traders who anticipate a large building surge would be wise to invest in steel futures, although once again the ideal strike price is always something of a mystery. At this time, no one anticipates that steel would cease to be manufactured. However, because steel does require relatively large amounts of resources in order to come into being, savvy traders anticipate that steel manufacturing process may have to experience significant retooling or refinement in order to fit into a globe which will undoubtedly be more concerned with green manufacturing processes. Global warming and climate change issues play an important role in many countries, and can directly influence market behavior. Market behavior, of course, is based on the choice to consume a certain type of metal or resource. If steel is deemed too difficult or environmentally costly to produce, it may experience a drop in value as countries opt to find more ecologically friendly materials. Trading Aluminum Aluminum is one of the most popular and lightweight industrial metals on earth. Luckily, it is also heavily prevalent it is the third most abundant element found on the planet. A typical aluminum futures contract is 44,000 pounds, with a tick value of 0.0005, or 0.05 cents per pound. Aluminum has a daily price limit of .60 cents, and is traded primarily on the COMEX of the NYMEX. Aluminum futures contracts are awarded at the beginning of each month of the calendar year. Like steel, aluminum s popularity is heavily based on consumption patterns. Unlike steel, aluminum is used in numerous softer consumer products, including food and drink cans, but can also be found in cars, airplanes, trains, and other modes of transportation. Aluminum s popularity as a metal for use in transportation modes tends to be a very significant factor in determining how much prices will rise or fall. Airplane manufacturer Boeing, for example, is drastically impacted by changes in aluminum prices. Car manufacturers still tend to prefer steel over aluminum, but aluminum has been making inroads into automotive manufacturing for several years. As car makers attempt to streamline their vehicles and create lighter weight vehicles that use fewer resources, aluminum is poised to gain in popularity as a go-to material. Aluminum s primary nature, which is comprised of its inherent flexibility and tensile strength, in combination with its exceptionally lightweight property, also makes it a highly adaptable material for use in construction projects. Aluminum also retains these qualities even at very low temperatures, making it ideal for extreme building conditions. It also conducts electricity and heat with about the same degree of success as copper. Many building projects are currently seeking ways to creatively incorporate materials that emphasize a different approach to shapes and curvature. Although steel is an excellent structural material, aluminum can be both structural and sculptural, which is a major benefit to intriguing new architectural designs. Many architects across the world utilize aluminum for this purpose. Aluminum is also used extensively in ordinary doors and roofs. Because of the price limitations on aluminum, it is a fairly steady commodity with low volatility. Generally, people in developed countries consume far more aluminum products than people in developing countries. Because several large countries are currently experiencing development, the demand for aluminum should remain fairly high for the foreseeable future. Aluminum shares another characteristic with steel in that it takes significant resources to form its final product. Aluminum has to go through three major stages of production and utilize other oxides in order to attain its distinctive blend. In this way, it has many similarities to steel, which requires a relatively extensive refinement process. This can raise warning flags in terms of a long-term future as a desirable commodity in a world where greener refinement techniques are not only desirable but required. Since there is no currently no global accord on what constitutes good industrial policy, aluminum will undoubtedly continue to prosper as a steady commodity investment for several years to come. Long thinking investors and traders would be wise to factor in the possibility that aluminum may, at some point, have to undergo a different and potentially more costly method of refinement. Trading Copper Copper, like aluminum, is traded in pounds. A typical futures contract for copper on the COMEX of the NYMEX is 25,000 pounds. The tick rate for copper is 0.5 cents per pound. Unlike aluminum, copper does not have a daily price limit. Future contracts are awarded at the beginning of each calendar month. The four largest producers of copper are BHP Billiton, Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold, Codelco, and Xstrata PLC. Copper s most valuable attribute is its conductivity. Used primarily as electrical wiring, copper has made possible numerous infrastructural expansion projects, in addition to wiring power plants and other large energy producing institutions. With the emergence of numerous large scale infrastructural projects in Asia, copper shows no signs of experiencing lesser demand any time soon. Its ubiquitous nature as a conductor practically guarantees that it will continue to experience robust growth for several years to come. However, copper is also used in several other industries, including construction and in jewelry making. Copper is also responsible for a great deal of nutrition in the world, as it is essential for plants such as rice and wheat to receive the energy they need to grow. Humans need copper as part of their daily intake in order to remain healthy. In this sense, copper is one of the most valuable commodities on the market. However, copper is generally traded in the futures market for use in more industrial applications. While its properties in electrical wiring have already been discussed, copper is also an excellent material for use in an increased telecommunications presence across the globe. Copper wiring in computers and other systems is vital. Copper is also used in applications for equipment that will be used in space and for highly technical medical equipment. As the medical industry becomes increasingly sophisticated and relies more on the internet to connect doctors with different specialties and equipment around the globe, the durability and reliability of copper becomes more important, too. One of copper s finest properties is its recyclability. Old copper wiring can easily be remade and repurposed into new copper wiring. Copper is also a vital component of the newly emerging alternative car market. Depending on how successful the alternative car movement is, copper could become even more popular than it is now as it becomes increasingly integrated into automobile production. Copper also forms an important component of numerous metal alloys, including the all purpose alloy of brass. In this sense, copper is a metal that is responsible for several other vital metals that help the modern world function. Copper will always be useful in one form or another, regardless of what specific purpose is found for it. So far, the greatest threats to copper futures trading in terms of price fluctuations have been supply strikes by miners and natural disasters. The leading producers of copper are Australia, Chile, Canada, and Indonesia. Investors and traders should carefully monitor the working conditions in these countries to anticipate possible price fluctuations when making futures contracts. Researching Top Mining Companies When researching the top mining companies in the world, investors and traders must take into account several factors. Because mines are highly regionally specific, the success and longevity of a mining company will largely be based on how well it is able to maintain its access to a particular site, and how well that particular mine is maintained. Mining accidents can frequently occur, causing delays in production or, in some rare cases, the closure of an entire mine. Some of the top mining companies in the world include Rio Tinto, Chinalco, Barrick, BHP Billiton, Vale CVRD, Alcoa, and Xstrata. Rio Tinto has been thriving due to its relatively expansive mining operations. Most successful mining companies generally do not focus on only one commodity, although it should be noted that a company such as Alcoa concentrates primarily on mining raw aluminum. Rio Tinto is also a successful mining company because it understands how important the financial market and the corresponding performance of its commodities are to its longer term business strategy. On its home page, Rio Tinto provides links to financial reports before it provides links to the actual materials it mines. Regularly updated tallies of the worth of the commodities it provides also adorn the front page. Essentially, the Rio Tinto model should be applied to any mining company: does it provide its share holders and stake holders with the financial data needed to make financially beneficial and accurate decisions BHP Billiton has a similar approach to Rio Tinto, providing quotes and share holder services on its home page. Additionally, BHP Billiton pursues an aggressive strategy of expansion and addition. Because of its enormous size, the company can quickly acquire other mining companies and operations, thereby cementing its position as one of the world s top mining companies. Much as this guide advocated investigating the management strategies of top energy companies, the same principal holds true for mining companies. In a sense, the two types of companies have the same goal: to provide a usable commodity at the best possible price for a wide range of consumers and markets. Both industries face challenges in terms of environmental supply and consumer demand, although metals and minerals face different obstacles in their acquisition. Alcoa is unique in being a top mining company without boasting significant product diversification. Alcoa has literally cornered the market on aluminum products, offering a suite of fabricated aluminum products at the ready, in addition to raw aluminum. However, because aluminum is such a pliable metal with so many different applications in both the industrial and domestic spheres, Alcoa s ranking as one of the top mining companies is not surprising. It is equivalent to a single company controlling most of the fresh water on the earth. Obviously, this company would be enormous without having to offer variations on its product. These major mining companies are currently trying to acquire each other, or at least broker some kind of agreement that allows them to share profits, as opposed to standing in direct opposition to one another. In the aluminum vein, Chinalco, which is a Chinese mining operation, is trying to work out deals with Rio Tinto. Chinalco is also trying to expand its operations beyond aluminum into other minerals and metals. Trading Agriculture: Popular Food Commodites Organic commodities differ from metals and other so-called hard commodities in important ways: they are far more likely to spike and drop depending on consumer demand and growing seasons, and are therefore less insulated against market forces. Trading Coffee Coffee is traditionally traded in contract sizes of 37,500 pounds. Futures contracts are awarded in March, May, July, September, and December. The tick size is 5/100 cent per pound, which for every 1 cent gain, results in 375 per contract. An individual coffee tree usually requires 3 to 5 years to begin producing coffee beans. Each tree can usually produce roughly enough beans to fill a traditional coffee can during one full growing season. Columbia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Brazil are the primary coffee producers, with an average worldwide production of roughly 120 million kilo bags of coffee a year. Trading Cocoa Cocoa is traditionally traded in contract sizes of 10 metric tons, which is equivalent to 22,046 pounds. Futures contracts are awarded in March, May, July, September, and December. The tick size is 1.00 per metric ton, which results in 10 dollars for each contract. No usable cocoa can be produced until at least five years after the coca tree has been planted, and then it takes roughly 10 years before the tree can produce at its highest possible level. They need the equivalent of a tropical rain forest either 20 degrees above or below the equator in order to flourish. Because of these environmental requirements, cocoa trees are restricted in their growth patterns. Cote d Ivorie, Ghana, and Indonesia are the top producers of cocoa beans, with an average annual production worldwide of roughly 3 million metric tons. Each of these countries is not renowned for its peaceable civic affairs. Additionally, potential cocoa traders should be advised that black pod disease and witch s broom, which is a type of fungus, frequently afflict cocoa trees and halt production. Currently, the best months for harvesting cocoa are between October and January. Trading Sugar Sugar is traditionally traded in contract sizes of 50 long tons, which is equivalent to 112,000 pounds. Futures contracts are awarded in March, May, July and October. The tick size is 1/100 of a cent per pound. Unlike cocoa and coffee, sugar itself is facing fairly intense competition from a variety of artificial or modified sweeteners, such as those made from corn syrup. The artificial sweeteners market has luckily tapered off in terms of popularity due to medical concerns however, corn products currently are wrecking havoc with sugar prices. The top sugar producing countries include Brazil, India, China and Thailand. Again, potential investors should carefully watch the political developments of these countries to accurately predict when and how shortfalls in production may occur. Heavy rains can also destroy sugar cane crops. This is of special concern in Brazil, which experiences enormous precipitation each year. However, unlike cocoa, sugar cane can be grown in wider bands of the earth, resulting in higher yields, and an easier supply flow, even when one crop is destroyed by unavoidable weather fluctuations. Trading Orange Juice Orange Juice is traditionally traded in contract sizes of 15,000 pounds, and is always classified as frozen concentrated orange juice in order to be deliverable. Futures contracts are awarded in the months of January, March, May, July, September, and November. The tick size is 5/100 cent per pound. Brazil and the U. S. are the primary producers of orange juice, with Brazil having recently ascended to the title of world s number one orange juice producer. As featured in the 1983 movie Trading Places, the greatest threat to orange juice futures are freak freezes in typically warm places. In the United States, Florida is a major producer of orange juice, while in Brazil, the Sao Paulo area is the primary producer. Potential investors and traders should always watch the weather report for the likelihood of freak weather patterns. Luckily, these two major growing places are opposed geographically, meaning that there is rarely an interruption to the worldwide supply of orange juice. Trading Grains Trading Corn Corn is traditionally traded in contracts of 5,000 bushels. Futures contracts are awarded in March, May, July, September, and December. The tick size is one quarter of a cent per bushel, which translates to 12.50 per contract. Corn is grown primarily in the United States, which produces 10 to 12 billion bushels a year during the harvest months of October and November. These limitations make the futures market for potential investors and traders more predictable than other markets, although as with all organic crops, the incidence of weather, especially excessive heat or flooding, plays a heavy role in final production tallies and corresponding prices. Corn is used in several different ways, both as a direct food product, as an indirect ingredient in other foodstuffs including corn syrup, and as fuel, in the case of ethanol. In this way, the demand for corn is high, since each sector is far enough apart to guarantee demand year round. Corn, oddly enough, has become more popular as certain sectors of the economy seek alternative energy sources. The viability of ethanol as an alternative fuel is debatable, but this does not prevent the possibility from temporarily raising demand for corn. Trading Wheat Wheat is traditionally traded in contracts of 5,000 bushels. Futures contracts are awarded in March, May, July, September, and December. The tick size is one quarter of a cent per bushel. U. S. is the major worldwide supplier of wheat, and is divided into three main brands of wheat. Soft Red Winter Wheat is traded at the CBOT, while Spring Wheat is traded at the MGE. Hard Red Winter Wheat is traded at the KCBOT. Wheat futures can occasionally get overheated, resulting in periodic volatility that frequently fools newcomers. Buying in January is advisable, as prices are usually lower than in August. Wheat is a huge contributor to brewing industries and livestock feed. Again, these two industries are far enough apart that demand should remain relatively constant, even if one industry experiences a shortfall. Trading Soybeans Soybeans are traditionally traded in contracts of 5,000 bushels. Futures contracts are awarded in January, March, May, July, August, September and November. Much like corn and wheat, the tick size is one quarter of a cent per bushel. Soybeans are produced primarily in the United States, and are the central ingredient to a plethora of foodstuffs after they have been crushed and rendered into oil. They are also a highly volatile commodity in terms of pricing, especially during the summer months. As with other foodstuffs, weather plays a huge role in how they are priced. Certain unscrupulous individuals will attempt to take advantage of newcomers by offering ridiculously high soybean futures. Potential investors would be wise to monitor the market for several months before investing or actively trading. Trading Livestock Livestock is traded in contracts of 40,000 pounds. Traditionally, futures contracts are awarded in the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December. The tick size is equivalent to 0.00025 per pound. The major cattle market is based in the United States. On the commodities market, cattle are divided into two different categories: feeder cattle and live cattle. Live cattle grow to an average size of 600 to 800 pounds, at which point they are transferred to a feed lot and encouraged to grow to their full slaughter weight, which is usually about 750 pounds for a deceased carcass. Livestock are one of the most complicated commodities because they are living beings which consume other foodstuffs in order to grow to full commercial weight. The price of soybeans, corns, and wheat can directly impact how many cattle are raised, depending on how extreme the shifts in prices are. Weather and food shortages can also have a direct impact on the growth and survival rate of cattle. A drought, for example, will wreck havoc on an individual cattle lot, and can potentially affect the industry if it is widespread. Additionally, diseases such as mad cow can afflict significant damage on the overall stock. If the weather is too hot, the cattle will not feel like eating, which will correspondingly reduce their overall weight. It should be noted that there are several large events that investors or traders should watch. The cattle on feed report has a huge impact on livestock futures. This report essentially details how many cattle are being sent to the feedlots, which will result in their eventual slaughter and corresponding value as feeder cattle. February is a generally the lowest purchase month for new futures. The Top Ways to Invest in Commodities As this guide has rather exhaustively demonstrated, commodities are as complex as the people who trade in them. Because of this, the top ways to invest in commodities are as follows: 1. Pick a commodity or commodities that are interesting. No successful commodity trader gets there purely because of his understanding of abstract mathematical formulas. Commodities are impacted by real life events. Even the steadiest commodities will experience fluctuations. The only way to have some notion of what is around the bend is to be a full participant in the process. By choosing a commodity that is interesting, a trader or investor will be able to stay motivated to keep track of developments that are affecting that particular commodity. 2. Register with a licensed and affiliated broker. No matter how well informed any trader is, no one will be able to interact meaningfully unless that trader is registered with a licensed broker. Each exchange house requires that all traders are members, or are affiliated with members of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. 3. Be prepared to lose initial investments. For those who are attempting to trade and invest in commodities for the first time, being prepared to lose money while learning how quickly the market can change and shift will save potential heartbreak and help individual investors avoid a personal financial crisis. Using trailing stop losses can help lock in gains and protect investors from some of the downside risks. It is far more important to be profitable than it is to be right all the time . 4. After experience has been gained, invest in indexes. After an individual investor or trader has learned the ropes of commodities trading, investing in larger financial institutions, such as indexes, can yield surprisingly profitable results. However, this should only be attempted after significant experience has been gained by the individual investor. Important Market Indicators Commodity bull and bear cycles usually occur over long periods of time. However, some key commodities can frequently provide clues as to what may lie ahead in terms of the direction of the market. The price of gold and silver is usually taken to be an indicator of the overall health of the commodities market. Additionally, oil prices have a heavy impact on how the commodities market is perceived. If any of these main commodities suddenly experiences a price hike or price drop, investors and traders should take note that the market is probably going to experience a fairly significant change. Because these are tied into industry and general economic perceptions of fiscal reality, they are considered to be extremely important market indicators. Additional Recommended Resources Each year, innumerable books, blogs, and magazine articles are devoted to the intricacies of trading in the futures market. The internet has played a particularly vital role in the development of the commodities market, and continues to generate enormous amounts of constantly updated information on potential futures positions. Individuals who wish to seek out additional information and resources about commodities trading are encouraged to explore the resources offered by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regularly publishes texts detailing their studies of trends in energy stocks. Websites such as Bloomberg frequently have intelligent, highly informed web articles that can help investors seek out the information they need to make crucial decisions. Several major exchanges maintain websites that provide up to the minute information on trades and other financial transactions, including the Chicago Mercantile Exchange at cmegroup /. Keeping up on changing regulations in terms of how trades are managed is also vital to any investor or trader. These websites post their new rules as they change. The best resources are frequently the people who have experienced the market first hand. By contacting brokerage firms either through the phone or via an online software platform, an interested individual can schedule an interview with a learned broker to truly understand how this incredibly complex and versatile system works. The key to any informational quest is to enjoy the experience of discovery and be unafraid to ask questions. Most people, when asked an intelligent and informed question, will be happy to give an interesting and fully rounded answer. Trader s Glossary Aggregation The grouping of futures positions by one particular trading entity in order to determine the combined value and potential future speculative limits. Arbitrage When a price discrepancy arises in a single commodity in two different markets, arbitrage is a way of capitalizing on this discrepancy by purchasing a commodity in the lower market and selling it in the higher market. Arbitration A process whereby two parties ask a neutral third party to resolve a dispute for them. In this way, the two parties will respect the decision of the third party as being unbiased and inherently fair. Generally, the NFA handles commodities disputes. Associated Person (AP) As long as the individual is affiliated with a registered member of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the associated person may handle customers, customer funds, or orders for an Introducing Broker, Commodity Pool Operator, or Futures Commission Merchant. At-the-Money Option The incidence of an option having an equal strike price to the current market value of the actual commodity. B Basis This refers to the difference between the agreed to futures price of a particular commodity and the actual current cash price of the commodity. Frequently, a basis is used to settle cash payouts. Bear Market A market that displays an overall downward trend in pricing. A bear market is always occasion for glum news and lethargic trading action. Bear Spread A tricky financial maneuver wherein a party sells a futures contract only to purchase the deferred contract in order to profit from the lower sales price. Bid The stated price at which a buyer hopes to acquire a particular commodity. Broker A licensed individual or financial entity that handles financial transactions, including futures contracts and futures options. A broker can either have ordinary, unaffiliated general public clients, or can work on behalf of other brokers or financial institutions. Bull Market A market that displays an overall upward trend in pricing. Bull markets generally cause extreme excitement, and in some cases can lead to inflation and overinvestment. However, while it lasts, a bull market is a happy, upbeat affair, resulting in money for practically everyone. Bull Spread Another tricky financial maneuver, similar to a bear spread, wherein a party buys a nearby futures month and then sells a deferred month in order to profit from price differences. Butterfly Spread An arrangement where two so-called opposing inter-delivery spreads share the same center delivery month. C Call Option A term referring to bids on futures options where the purchaser believes that the commodity will attain a higher strike price in the future months. As with all options, the buyer is not required to act on this strike price. Carrying Broker This individual clears all trades, and is usually part of a clearinghouse. The individual is also always a member of a futures exchange. Canceling Order This order removes a prior order by the same customer. Carrying Charge (also known as cost of carry or carry) In abstract terms, especially for commodities such as interest rates, a carrying charge reflects expenditures undertaken on behalf of maintaining the complex financial instruments. For tangible commodities, this charge usually reflects storage fees and insurance costs for the actual commodity. Carryover Any physical commodities which are not consumed and remain in storage at the end of the marketing year. Oilseed and grain frequently are left over, and therefore require a lift into the following year. Cash Commodity Also known as actuals. The tangible commodity, not merely the contract on the commodity. Cash Contract This contract is a guarantee of the immediate or future delivery of the commodity in question. Cash Market An actual physical location where the commodities are traded, as distinguished from a trading floor. An example would be a livestock yard, as opposed to the pit at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Cash Settlement When futures contracts and futures options finally expire, the participants can choose to settle the contracts via cash instead of actual physical commodities. Charting Also known as technical analysis. Charting is essentially a graphical display of data in the form of charts or graphs that allow traders to plot out potential future movements of a commodity based on its past performance, total volume, and other factors like open interest. The data that goes into the charting can take a significant amount of time to compile. Circuit Breaker Much like it sounds, a circuit breaker helps keep the market from financially overheating by halting trades setting price limits on exceedingly high volume intra-day market sessions which either show exceptional growth or exceptional losses. Clear Generally, this is performed on a daily basis, and allows clearinghouses to rectify all their records and make any necessary margin adjustments, whether owed or owing. Another way to think of a clear is a kind of massive checkbook balancing performed on all trades and transactions. Clearinghouse Technically a separate part of an exchange market, but a vital member all the same, clearinghouses keep track of all margin fees and payments and frequently act as a safe third party for both buyers and sellers, guaranteeing that all trades are performed according to the appropriate rules of the marketplace. The clearinghouse is also responsible for regulating delivery of commodities, settling all accounts to the satisfaction of the rules, and ultimately reporting all trade data. Clearing Member The individual who is ultimately responsible for making sure that everyone lives up to their agreements, especially when it comes to customers of a particular financial institution or company. The clearing member is also described as being a member of the exchange s clearinghouse division. Closing Price Also known as the settlement price, this is the final amount of money that will be exchanged between buyer and seller. Closing Range A span of prices at which various trades were conducted right at the very end, or close, of the market. Commission The fee a broker receives for completing a transaction. Usually this fee is paid by the customer directly to the broker. Commodity A universal good or concept that has the same recognizable value regardless of nation, region, or currency. Because a commodity will have the same value wherever it appears, it can usually be used as an indicator of global economic health or prosperity, or conversely, as an indicator of troubled markets. Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) A federal law which puts forth and authorizes the basic structure of federal regulation of all trades on futures. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Established in 1974, this body oversees all exchange markets, and provides the administration and general upkeep of the Commodity Exchange Act. Commodity Pool Also known as a Pool. This form of investing allows multiple parties to chip in to one commodity in order to make the minimum contract quantity. The method is useful for smaller investors or those individuals who wish to diversify their portfolio without expending significant amounts of cash. Commodity Pool Operator (CPO) The person in charge of overseeing the commodity pool funds, and making adjustments as necessary. Commodity Trading Adviser (CTA) This individual is paid to spout useful advice about the feasibility of investing in any particular futures commodity contract or option, and frequently has the additional power of being able to make changes to a customer s account. Generally, a qualified CTA has years of investing experience of his or her own, and can therefore offer helpful insights and tips into how to best to approach a new offer or bid. Confirmation Statement The Futures Exchange Merchant is responsible for sending this statement to the customer advising them of the number of contracts and the price of the contracts that were traded in a given period. Contract Market Grouped around a particular commodity, contract markets are picked by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to handle all futures contracts. This trade board is also frequently referred to as an exchange. Contract Month Also known as the Delivery Month. Essentially, the month at which the commodity specified in the futures contract is scheduled to be delivered. Convergence The somewhat unpredictable but occasionally pleasing trend of futures contract prices and actual commodity market prices to approach each other as the futures contract is due to expire. Covered Option A term referring to the ability of an individual to cover their put option or short call by actually buying the commodity or futures contract. Crop (Marketing) Year While each crop year is based on the individual agricultural commodity it is linked to, crop years are defined by the time between harvests. In the Northern hemisphere, new marketing years tend to begin in October or November, and end somewhere in the summer months of July or August. Crop Reports An estimate of expected yield, actual planted acreage, and anticipated production of various agricultural commodities, with production statistics from previous years thrown in for comparison purposes. The report is prepared by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Cross-Hedging A clever way to mitigate losses, cross-hedging is the practice of using a futures contract to cover a risky cash commodity for which there is no futures contract. The two commodities generally have to be related in terms of the trend of their pricing for the strategy to be effective. Crush Spread Also known as a reverse crush. In a move that appears to cancel itself out, an investor or trader purchases soybean futures and then simultaneously sells soybean oil and meal futures. Current Yield A ratio that measures the worth of the current market price of the debt instrument to that of the initial coupon. D Day Order An order that expires on the day it was entered due to a lack of closure. Day Trader An individual who finishes a complete trade, including bidding and offering, in one day s trading session. Default A failure to complete a futures contract, either by not fulfilling a margin call, or not delivering or receiving the goods as promised. Deferred Delivery Month The easiest way to conceptualize of a deferred delivery month is that it is much farther away than the so-called nearby futures delivery months. Deliverable Grades Also known as contract grades. Rules designed by the exchanges to guarantee certain marks of quality and of procedure when delivering commodities as part of a fulfilled futures contract. The deliverable grades frequently are accompanied by potential discounts or premiums for those commodities that do not meet the desired grade as described in the futures contract. Delivery The official term for the transfer of a commodity from the seller to the buyer of the futures contract. Many buyers and sellers prefer to settle delivery via cash only. Delivery Month The delivery of the commodity may take place at any time during the described delivery month. Delivery Points An exchange establishes the physical boundaries where a certain commodity may be delivered. An excellent example of this is steel futures and commodities, which recently had three additional ports in the U. S. added to its official list of delivery points by the London Metals Exchange. Delta In math, the symbol that represents the rate of change. When applied to commodities, delta generally represents the change in option premium prices. Frequently, delta is used to represent the probability that the option will ultimately be priced exactly at the real market rate once it comes into maturity. Demand, Law of One of the fundamental governing principles of all market trade, the law that describes how many people desire a particular product, and how that demand either increases or decreases price. Derivative In math, a derivative is based on the rate of change of other formulas. In commodities trading, a derivative is a financial instrument which essentially bands together several separate values taken from commodities, other debt instruments, even index fluctuations, and then forms a tool that can be priced in such a way to minimize or hedge against other risks or investments. Designated Self-Regulatory Organization (DSRO) A Futures Commission Merchant is occasionally the member of more than one Self-Regulatory Organization, prompting the group of affiliated SRO s to decide which among them shall be ultimately responsible for the usual tasks of smoothly running the FCM. The NFA frequently is selected for all FCMs that are not part of an exchange. Differentials The same commodity occasionally has differences in price depending on the grade, class, and delivery location. These differences are described as differentials. Disclosure Document This document is occasionally required from CPOs to their customers, and should provide a description of their performance, fees, and general business strategy, especially in regard to how they approach trading and other market policies. Discount A discount can be literally applied in the case of a commodity that fails to meet a certain grade standard, or it can be used as term to describe different futures that are trading at a lower rate than a previous future. Discretionary Account also known as a Managed Account. An account that is controlled by a broker or Commodity Trading Adviser, but is not technically owned by them. The authority to take action on these accounts is usually granted via a written power of attorney process by the initial owner of the account. E Econometrics Econometrics utilizes mathematical and statistical models with real economic data to validate or disprove economic theories and help formulate or solve basic economic problems. Electronic Order A broker is not required for the placement of an electronic order however, a system affiliated with the official trading or exchange houses is required in order to make the order go through. Electronic Trading Systems Equilibrium Price Neither bearish nor bullish, the equilibrium price is instead the ideal balance between the market price and quantity of a commodity, where the supply and demand are exactly even. Equity A way to describe a futures trading account if all available positions were offset by the actual contemporary market price. Eurodollars A term describing the status of United States dollars that are currently deposited in a bank outside of the jurisdiction of the United States. This institution can either be a foreign bank, or an affiliated institution of a U. S. bank that is technically in another country. European Terms Essentially, the foreign currency unit per dollar. This is needed in order to set or quote exchange rates. Exchange for Physicals (EFP) Also known as versus cash. In the simplest terms, two traders agree to exchange futures in lieu of cash. Frequently, this type of transaction is entered into by two hedgers. Exercise If the holder of a call option wants to buy the futures contract on which the option is based, or conversely if the holder of a put option wants to sell the futures contract on which the put option is based, this action is described as exercise. Expiration Date The last day on which the holder of an option can get some exercise. F Face Value The actual numerical amount printed on a certificate or other representation of value, or the original value of a debt. Federal Funds A way to describe the funds that are deposited by member banks at the Federal Reserve. Frequently, the funds are being loaned from one member bank to another. Federal Funds Rate The interest rate for using federal funds. Federal Reserve System Created in 1913 by the Federal Reserve Act, the Federal Reserve System helps ensure that banks will always be able to protect their investors by keeping reserve funds on hand. When a bank is insured by the Federal Reserve, all depositors who have funds less than 100,000 are guaranteed that their funds will be available for withdrawal. Feed Ratio A method of comparing how much it costs to feed livestock to how much profit livestock actually produce at the time of their sale on the exchange. Fill or Kill The term used to describe a price limit order initiated by a customer which must either be immediately accepted or turned away. Financial Instrument A somewhat murky sounding term, there are actually only two types of financial instruments which deal with ways to structure debt and equity. A debt instrument is an another term for a loan with interest. First Notice Day When a futures contract requires fulfillment of the delivery of the commodity, the first day that this is possible is referred to as the first notice day. The delivery period is usually about a month in total, depending on the particulars of the contract. The seller gives this notice to a clearinghouse, which correspondingly informs the buyer on their behalf. Floor Broker The individual who physically cries out bids and offers on behalf of others. Floor Trader A member of the exchange who trades entirely for his own account in the pit. Forex Market The Foreign Exchange market, where currency prices are adjusted in accordance to other currency values. It can also function as a general meeting place for international business, although currency evaluation plays a huge role in its day to day activities. Forward (Cash) Contract This agreement binds a seller into delivering to a buyer. The particulars of the commodity, the delivery date, and all other specifics may be written to suit the individual needs of the occasion, and can incorporate unusual or special terms. Full Carrying Charge Market Essentially, this term refers to a market that takes into account the differences in price between storage, interest and insurance depending on the particular delivery month of the commodity. Fully Disclosed While an FCM carries the account, the account is clearly named after the individual owner. Fundamental Analysis Much like it sounds, this type of analysis is a predictor of potential price trends of a particular commodity or group of commodities based on past supply and demand history. Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) Also known as a Wire House or Commission House. Somewhere between a broker and an individual, an FCM can buy and sell futures and options for clients, whether those clients are individuals or large companies. Futures Contract An agreement between a seller and a buyer to provide a certain commodity at a certain future date for a specified price. Unlike an option, both parties are required to live up to the terms of the agreement. Futures Exchange The forum for buying and selling of futures and options. An exchange provides the regulations for the transactions carried on within its walls, but it does actually gain any financial benefit from these transactions. G Gamma A kind of second derivative of delta. Essentially a way to measure how fast the rate of change changes, based on futures prices. GLOBEX The global electronic trading system. Grain Terminal A method of storage and transport for physical grain supplies. Frequently, this terminal takes the shape of an enormous elevator which can interconnect with either ships or railroads. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Usually measured in the period of one year, this is the combined value of all the services and goods that originate from a single economy. Gross National Product (GNP) This is a formula that takes the GDP, adds it to all the money earned by the residents of that country from investments they made in other countries, then subtracts any income that was generated in the domestic economy by non-residents. Gross Processing Margin (GPM) Specific to soybeans, this measures the cost shortfalls or gains between how much the raw product actually cost versus the income generated from processed meal and oil. Guaranteed Introducing Broker Essentially a letter of recommendation from an FCM to his or her clientele, assuring them that introducing broker s actions will be handled by the FCM, should any financial or other responsibilities arise during the introducing broker s dealings with those clients. H Hedger In other circles, a hedger might be described as a nervous Nellie. Essentially, this is a type of investor who has very little faith that his investments will actually match what he plans to pay for them in the futures contract. Hedgers survive by constantly buying and selling equivalent value commodities in order to ensure an even financial payout. Hedging The action of a hedger (see above). High Much like a temperature reading, the price high is recorded daily for each futures or options agreement. Hog/Corn Ratio This is another version of the feed ratio, except it is concentrated principally on hogs and corn. Horizontal Spread In the vein of hedging, a horizontal spread is buying and selling the same type of put or call option, with the only difference between the two options being their particular ending month. I In-the-Money Option Also known as intrinsic value. An option that is performing at such a rate that it is making money for the contract holder, whether the option is a put or a call. Independent Introducing Broker Unlike a guaranteed introducing broker, an introducing broker has to actually be responsible for minimum money requirements. Initial Margin The absolute minimum amount of money required from an investor or other active member in trading in order to buy or sell a future. Intercommodity Spread Two separate but vaguely related futures markets that happen to share the same delivery month. They are related because the same individual sells one while immediately buying the other. Interdelivery Spread Also known as intramarket spread. Much like an intercommodity spread, except that the transaction takes place on the same exchange market. Intermarket Spread Almost identical to the interdelivery spread, but in this case the transaction takes place in two entirely separate markets. Introducing Broker (IB) Somewhere between a guaranteed introducing broker and an independent introducing broker, a plain introducing broker an do little but accept orders, and then pass on the bulk of the work to other registered individuals. Inverted Market An unusual disparity between two delivery months of the same commodity. Invisible Supply Occasionally, commodities are hidden in the storage of manufacturers and retailers, and can t be easily counted or inventoried. These commodities are supposed to be part of the market, but may simply be impossible to accurately count. L Last Trading Day After this time, no further trading may take place on a particular option or future. Leverage With very little capital, an individual may actually be able to oversee or manipulate large currency amounts of a particular commodity. Limit Order The customer may specify an order in which they limit the time period of the order or the price. Liquidate Also known as Offset. Essentially, the action of buying or selling a contract or position. Liquidity (Liquid Market) A term describing a market that has enough unclaimed properties and a corresponding number of sellers and buyers to facilitate trade without causing a significant increase or decrease in the overall price. Loan Program A type of financial agreement between farmers and the government, which allows farmers to essentially take out money based on their expected crop yields of the following year. Loan Rate This refers to the money loaned to a farmer based on an individual unit of an agricultural commodity. Local An exchange member who is trading for his account only. Long An investor or trader who has purchased either futures options or futures contracts. Low Again, much like the weather, the lowest recorded daily price for an individual commodity. M Maintenance Margin The minimum amount of money due from a customer to keep his claim on a particular option or future. Managed Futures Professionals who quietly handle client assets using the futures markets as an investment tool. Margin A type of performance bond used by buyers and sellers to guarantee their participation and the subsequent performance of all parties involved in a futures and options contract. Margin Call If a customer dips below the minimum margin amount, he may receive a notification from the clearinghouse. Market Order The official notification to buy or sell a given option or future when it is available, regardless of price. Market Profile A professional method of comparing and contrasting price data, which is frequently utilized by traders. Market Reporter The individual who records all pit prices. This person usually receives a paycheck from the exchange. Marking-to-Market A daily accounting of the margin account of an individual client, based on the performance of the day s trade. Money Supply Much as it sounds, this is a measure of the total available funds in the economy. It is measured not only by flowing currency, but by all recorded bank deposits and savings. Moving-Average Charts Essentially, a way to quickly calculate average prices by dividing by the number of days within a given time period. Municipal Bonds These are debts put forth by official government bodies, usually of a local or state, as opposed to federal or international, affiliation. N National Futures Association (NFA) The favored DSRO of most FCM s. Nearby Delivery Month Also known as a Spot Month. The delivery month of a futures contract that is chronologically soon. Net Asset Value A way of measuring each person s relative value of participation in a commodity pool scenario. Net Performance A method of measuring the net increase or decrease of all asset value. O Offer The reciprocal action to bidding. Omnibus Account An account managed by an FCM under the name of the FCM, even if the account is actually owned by other individuals. Open The very first moment when trading can officially begin. Opening Range An inverse to the closing range prices, the opening range is a measure of where prices began in the course of the trading day. Open Interest All the futures and options that have yet to be fulfilled or offset. Even though all these contracts have buyers and sellers, interest is calculated based on their current position. Open Market Operation The term for the sale and purchase of government notes, bills, and bonds. Open Outcry The action of the traders who verbally offer and bid on futures and options. Option Buyer Also known as a Holder. Basically, the individual who buys a put or call option. Option Contract Unlike a futures contract which requires the buyer to purchase a commodity at a certain time, an options contract gives them the right, but not the obligation, to do so. Option Premium The amount of money a seller receives from a buyer when an option is initially sold. Original Margin The required amount of money from a futures investor or trader in order to enable him to participate in purchasing and selling futures. Out-of-the-Money Option At expiration, a put which is higher than expected, or a call which is lower than expected, resulting in losses to the holder of the option. Over-the-Counter (OTC) Market Similar to a ForEx market, an over-the-counter market is a forum for exchange for foreign currency and other items, except it does not take place in an official brick and mortar venue, but rather purely over telecommunication. P Par No significant growth or decrease in value from the face value of a particular security. Pit The physical area of an exchange where individuals verbally pitch bids and offers. Point-and-Figure Charts Relatively visually unengaging, a point and figure chart demonstrates very minimal price changes, regardless of whether it s a day or a year. Position The term for a financial commitment. Position Limit The Commodities Future Trading Commission determines how many positions any individual may hold. Position Trader Unlike a day trader, a position trader engages in longer form trades that may take several trading days to fully resolve. Premium Usually refers to the price that a seller receives from a buyer at the time of a futures transaction, but can also refer to changes in grades or actual market prices that exceed the futures contract. Price Discovery A term describing how the market clinches the particular cost of a commodity. Price Limit Set by the exchange, a limit in either growth or decline of the cost of a particular future. Price Limit Order This is set by the customer, and determines the price at which a trade will occur. Primary Market Usually a commercial bank or a dealer who has been vetted and approved by the Federal Reserve. Prime Rate Banks set this rate of interest for their favored clientele. Producer Price Index (PPI) A way to measure how much it cost to manufacture items during the prior month. Pulpit The structure where market reporters record and deposit data on the trades happening around them. Purchase and Sale Statement (P S) At the termination of a futures contract, an FCM sends out a statement to their customers detailing the total financial charges associated with this transaction. Put Option Generally, an option that expects a commodity s price to decline from the market price to a lower specified strike price. The holder may or may not choose to exercise this option. Q Quotation Refers to a time-sensitive price for a particular commodity or contract. R Range A way to compare the performance of a commodity over a set period of time by highlighting the low and high prices. Regulations (CFTC) The official rules that make possible the enforcement of the CEA. Reciprocal of European Terms Essentially the reverse of European terms, whereby foreign currency is measured in terms of U. S. dollars. Reparations When damages of a civil nature occur, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission uses reparations to recover these funds. Reportable Positions Trading firms and even individual investors or traders must begin to report their open contracts to an authorized exchange if they exceed a certain pre-determined number. Repurchase Agreements (or Repo) Generally conducted for the purpose of government bonds, an agreement between the seller and the buyer that the seller will repurchase the sold item at a later time. Reserve Requirements Those financial institutions that are a part of the Federal Reserve system must maintain a minimum amount of money on hand to meet their obligations as stated under the Federal policy. Resistance A threshold for prices which, while not officially demarcated, proves difficult to conquer. Reverse Crush Spread Exactly as it sounds, this policy reverses the crush spread by selling soybean futures and purchasing the meal and oil futures. Round Turn A kind of negating transaction which involves both the buying of and subsequent sale of futures which balances itself out. Rules (NFA) As the usual DSRO, the NFA puts forth these series of guidelines to help administer its members. Runners Literally, individuals who must scurry from the phone banks with orders from clients to give to the pit brokers for fulfillment. S Scalper Much like a day trader, a scalper completes all his transactions in one day, although he tends to accumulate very small profits, and can occasionally attempt a multi-day trade. Segregated Account Also known as Customer Segregated Funds. Essentially, a way to categorize the money from customers as a separate entity from the money of the trading firm. Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) The body responsible for ensuring that rules are followed during financial transactions. Selling Hedge (or Short Hedge) A way to balance any financial risk by selling those contracts that the holder believes will not fulfill their full value at the time of their maturity. Settlement Price Equivalent to closing price. Short An endearing nickname for an individual who intends to buy a cash commodity, or has in the past made a sale of futures. Speculator Part analyst, part hedger, a speculator buys based on their beliefs about what price fluctuations will occur in the future. Spot A term that encapsulates the belief that a tangible commodity will be delivered immediately. Spread A way of describing the difference between separate but similar commodities. Spreading A form of hedging on two separate but similar commodities, except that it takes place over separate delivery months, and the profit is only realized once the transaction is complete. Steer/Corn Ratio Much like the hog corn ratio and the feed ratio, this method measures how much it costs to feed cattle on a specific amount of corn. Stop-Limit Order A limitation on when a particular trade can occur based on a specific price. Strike Price Also known as exercise price. The predetermined figure at which a contract or option becomes viable. Supply, Law of A reciprocal and equally fundamental pair to the Law of Demand, the law of Supply dictates how supply influences a particular item and its corresponding cost. Support A fixed point, usually represented in a visual format such as a chart, where a potential futures value crash is averted due to enough volume purchases. T Technical Analysis An analytical approach to understanding the interaction of futures markets based on a variety of different mathematical tools and market factors. Tick Also known as a Minimum Price Fluctuation. The agreed minimum at which a particular designated commodity can be traded. This is especially useful for commodities that trade in large contracts, such as cocoa or other agricultural products. Time Limit Order In the same vein as stop limit orders and price limit orders, a time limit order is also designated by the customer. The order may only be sold during a limited time. Time-Stamped A particular order will bear two distinct time stamps, relating to the time when it first arrived on the floor, and when the transaction was finally finished. Time Value Also known as extrinsic value. A tricky measurement based partially on faith and partially on market factors. Essentially, a buyer agrees to pay an additional amount of money for a particular option in the belief that over a certain period of time it will increase in its total value. U Uncovered Option Also known as a Naked Option. Essentially, an option that can t be hedged or otherwise saved by the last minute buying or selling of another future. The option can either be a put or a call. Underlying Futures Contract If the holder of an options chooses to exercise his option, he then must accept the terms of the futures contract that the option is based upon. U. S. Treasury Bill The shortest term of all government financial instruments, with an expiration of one year. Generally, these bills are sold at less than face value when the government buys them back, they are purchased at their face value, thereby giving the buyer incentive to purchase them in the first place. U. S. Treasury Bond The longest term of all government financial instruments, with an average expiration date of more than 10 years. U. S. Treasury Note Between a treasury bill and bond lies the note, which has an expiration period between one and ten years. V Variable Limit Also known as a variable price limit. This allows for exceptions to the minimum or maximum price restrictions set by the commodities exchange. Usually, these variable prices are limited to a period of one trading day, and are set in order to allow for the trade of one particular high quantity commodity. Variation Margin A daily or sometimes intra-day payment method that reduces potential substantial devaluations for clearing house members and clearing houses who hold risky positions or securities. This margin payment is owed by the members of a clearing house to the clearing house itself in exchange for keeping the risky securities, and protects the clearing house from a sudden financial collapse. Vertical Spread An investment strategy which allows a trader to purchase two options that have identical expiration dates, but different strike prices. Volatility A measure of risk of the likelihood that a security or index will maintain a particular set value. A higher volatility generally corresponds to a much riskier security, although the value of the security can either increase or decrease dramatically. A lower volatility rating is indicative of a steadier security with a relatively predictable growth pattern. Volume The total number of shares traded during a set period of time. The sale of 300 shares during a trading session from one seller to a buyer will result in a total volume of 300. W Warehouse Receipt Also known as a vault receipt. A method of guaranteeing the quality and amount of a particular futures commodity without having to deliver the actual goods themselves. This type of receipt is frequently used when trading in precious metals. Wire House An institution which is linked by its communication methods, but may not necessarily have one central brick and mortar location, such as a series of bank branches. Writer Also known as an option grantor or option seller. A writer is the individual who profits from selling options, or is the person who creates a trust made up of assets. Y Yield The amount of money that will return from an investment. Can be measured in several different ways, and with different time periods, although it is usually measured annually. Yield Curve Compares interest rates of bonds with the same credit ranking but different maturity dates at a fixed point in time. Also known as Positive Yield Curve and Negative Yield Curve. Yield to Maturity The anticipated return rate for a bond held until it matures. Involves calculations of coupon interest rate, current market price, par value, and time to maturity. 2011 - 2015 CommodityTrading About Us