Futures Trading Blog

TradePilotPro asked:

Trading Futures

SAUDERS

Eric J Ken asked:


Today, more than ever before trading has become easy for everyone. Whether you are at your workplace or at home, trading systems are making it easier for everyone to trade on stocks or futures with the click of the mouse. But with so many futures and stock trading systems available, how do you decide on the best one for you? Here is our checklist that will, hopefully, help you make the right choice in future trading systems.

What are the markets the future trading system provided? The choice of futures markets really depends on the ones you are interested in. Generally, you must try to get a trading system that offers trade in all major commodities, as well as currency/forex, and stock index. These commodities include agriculture, energy, oil, gas, coal, and softer commodities like coffee, sugar, besides precious metals.

What reporting features does the software offer?

The reason most people opt for futures trading systems is because these softwares provide accurate reports and analysis. Before you select a futures trading system, you should check if you can access the basic information on futures with ease. The software should be simple, and convenient to use. However, complex reports, analysis on each company, charts, and highs and lows on a daily basis should be the other features of the software.

Be careful of the drawdowns

While many futures trading systems relay messages that customers can make huge profits by investing in certain commodities over a period of time, they conveniently forget to mention that the drawdowns can not be more than the starting capital you invested and most of the time this amount doesn’t last for longer than a year. So, we advice you to look closely on the dollar amount you sign up with and the drawdown as well as the length of time it will last you.

Look for a futures trading system that is easy to use

You don’t really want to add more stress to your life by choosing one of the complex futures trading systems. A trading system should be user friendly and easy to use for people of all ages. A complex trading system will not add value to your experience, irrespective of how good the company providing the system maybe. A completely intuitive system can enhance your experience as well as make it easier for you to invest and make money. So how do you choose the best futures trading system? Ask for a demo. Use the demo to experience the ease of using the system. If the experience is an unpleasant one or if you have to go through a long series of instructions before performing basic operations, don’t waste your time on that particular software; simply look for a different system.

Check the reviews of the systems

A good way to choose an ideal futures trading system for yourself is to read the reviews and testimonials. Not only can you find out how satisfied the users are, but you will also get to know if there are any bugs or issues in the system that may not have been mentioned to you. And while you are at it, check their customer support service feedback as well!



KEELAN

Sai Vallejos asked:


For every income there is always an opportunity cost, and this includes online futures trading. This type of business allows online futures trading traders to calculate risk to minimize cost on online futures trading (OFT). True, there are many guidelines in OFT, but they are not risk free common to all types of businesses.

Following rules on OFT, strictly speaking cannot earn you lots in online futures trading, but if you combine with thinking and gut feel, most online future trading traders will agree, that they earn more profits compared to just following the rules of OFT.

To be successful in online futures trading trader, it is important to have a plan. First, it is important how much amount will be put in as a capital for your trading business; second, thr secret is experience. A successful online futures trading trader ought to have experience, it is important to look for a trainer or a mentor who is a seasoned online futures trading trader.

Third, is identification of OFT style; is it short or long term OFT? Risking an amount as a capital for online futures trading should be calculated, to avoid loosing a big sum of money. It can provide higher profits, but it can also make you loose money for online futures trading.

Too little investment in online futures trading, limit your capacity in practicing sound speculation in financial management in an online futures trading environment. It is best to study one’s trading style and the quantity of hours spent in online futures trading. OFT traders require the whole day on line, if trading during the day or swing trade futures are preferred.

There are four important principal ideas about to consider in an OFT, they are: trend trading, diminishing losses, running profits, and risk management. Trend trading is a tactic used by position traders in online futures trading, they follow the market closely, at least yearly but it is advisable to follow the market closely .

The second idea of online futures trading is diminishing losses or minimizing losses, it is the most challenging principle to apply but easy to conceptualize. It is actually knowing when to stop online futures trading when a certain loss is about to occur, after identifying the market trend.

Running profits or “letting the profit to run” is allowing your capital to roll when the profits are good in OFT, it also takes fortitude when the trend is loosing. It takes practice to master this skill of online futures trading, but it is easy to understand.

The last principle in the business of online futures trading is risk management; it requires lots of training and not easy to understand. It’s actually protecting your capital for OFT profitable, if the trend improves, the online futures trading commodity trader trades, this will require skill, practice and experience.

Another secret is to avoid investing in highly volatile markets to minimize risk.



VAILES

James asked:


as above

WISSLER

beanthedoctor asked:


I know it has actually fallen here in the U.S., but what about overall world demand? 5%? 10%?
The reason I ask, is that the media and most politicians think it is supply/demand that has driven a 7-fold increase in oil prices since 2002. However, demand hasn’t risen by 700%. I believe the devaluation of the dollar and oil future trading has contributed equally, accounting for ~90% of the increase in oil prices. What do you think?

LISK

Sai Vallejos asked:


Wondering if making online futures trading is exciting? It is , understanding it is actually the best way of earning extra bucks. There are many investors who choose to take advantage of it with an online futures trading (OFT) broker. It is best to choose a broker first then think of the best online account that will suit your online trading capital investment needs. It is best to study the best options, it has to be carefully studied to calculate risk and be able to make a profitable sum in OFT.

An OFT professionally managed account is an online commodities trading product, this type of online trading account is managed by an online trading broker. He will take care of your business portfolio. He will also take care of observing commodities market trends, and help decides in your behalf which route to take. He keeps his line of communication for you, especially when the market is hot and is running profits. It will really depend on your arrangements, whether you would want to decide before investing or you will give him free reign in investing for you.

An exciting type of online commodities trading is called full services account, actually it is the same with a online futures trading professionally managed account, but you will work closely together with you OFT broker, and you will also have a responsibility for the profits and losses of online trading. Your professional online futures trading broker will just assist you one step at a time, until you have mastered the ropes of OFT. A professionally managed account is best for the neophytes of online trading.

A online futures trading broker assisted account is another type of account where an online broker will assist you, it is similar to an online futures trading full service accounts and professionally managed account, the difference actually is you are trading by yourself with a back up online commodities trader on line available for consultation. This account is usually used by an experienced online trading broker and not by those who are just starting. It is actually running an OFT by you, but with the assistance of a future online broker available anytime.

There are some traders who are considered as veterans with online futures trading, and they wouldn’t need an online future trading broker in their behalf, the account is called discount OFTaccount or deep discount account. These type of account allows you to be in perfect control of futures online trading. You are expected to work on your own trades, study market trends of prices of commodity and judge whether to invest or not to invest. Usually an online service broker assistance is needed just to keep the program running. This type of account is for veteran OFT traders.

There are variations of OFT and online futures brokers operate in accordance to what type of account you have chosen. It is best to consult a reliable OFT broker for assistance to be able to make the best decision of what account to choose before embarking on this exciting investment project.



MATAVA

rob_nowlin10 asked:


i want to know how to buy options. i am new to trading options and futures, and i am a little confused. where do i set the strike price? and why would i buy out-the-money?? and how does options work? what is the difference between buying a PUT and selling a PUT and in the same trade you would buy a CALL and sell a CALL.. i have more questions BUT i am only allowed so many characters

BARGES

Albert Smith asked:


A lot of people these days will tell you that futures is one of the most profitable financial investment instruments. The attraction of futures trading is the fact that it isn’t too complicated. The problem with typical stock markets is that there are thousands and thousands of stocks available, and to some that might seem like too daunting a figure to deal with. With futures markets, a speculator has only a handful of markets - about forty - to choose from. Just as it is easy to choose from that handful of markets, it is also easy to speculate commodities futures because the markets are affected by extreme weather conditions like storms or droughts. A decision to buy or sell can be made within moments of a weather report broadcast, and there is always a chance for profit whether prices go up or down.

There are in fact many advantages of futures trading. For this article, we will look into 3 of the best reasons why you should consider futures trading.

Small Commission Charges

Compared to other investments, the commission charges for futures trading are relatively small, and paid only after a trader’s position has ended. The commission charges may vary, depending on the service level of the broker. Commissions involving online brokers may be as low as $5, while brokers who provide full service in terms of advice on the trades made can charge up to $50 per trade. For a broker in a managed trading commission controlling all trading decisions at his discretion however, the charges can go as high as $200 on each trade.

Paper Investment

When you purchase stocks or bonds, you actually own that particular investment, but with futures it’s a little bit different. Trading futures does not require the trader to have or own actual physical goods on hand in order to trade them, because all the trader is really doing is speculating with futures contracts. It really is just a paper investment, like an insurance policy or a monetary bet. There are no physical goods involved in the exchange, and the actual commodity in the contract that is being traded is only exchanged on rare instances when the delivery of the contract takes place. For most futures traders (who are usually speculators themselves), the trade is a paper transaction, pure and simple.

High Leverage

The fact that futures contracts are highly leveraged financial instruments means that an investor can go into the market with a relatively small investment - called margin - and potentially come out reaping large profits. The concept of investors having to pay the ‘margin’ is comparable to a security bond, whereby should the trader make a loss on his trade, he may lose some, all, or even more than what he put up. However if his market predictions turn out to be correct, he gets back his margin and whatever profit he might have made, the profit usually being ten-fold on a 10% margin. In comparison to other investments, futures trading offers an excellent return, and this is why it is one of the best advantages of futures trading.



KNUTT