Information About Futures Trading Basics

By Chokie Sitohang


Futures trading is another method of investment available for people to invest in. and just like any other form of investment, success requires that the investor get to know the market and the process of trading. Without the necessary knowledge in futures trading, it would be difficult for any investor to make money out of their investment capital effectively. They would even be risking their money from possible investment loss.

For starters, investors should know what futures trading is all about. The simplest definition to understand about futures trading is that it is a type of trade wherein a type of commodity is being traded on a market with transactions noting a particular type of commodity sold and bought at a specified price and deliverable from a specified time in the future.

What commodities trading is all about can be summarised in a common exchange between 2 parties. One party is a producer of a certain commodity while the second one is the purchaser. The producer offers the purchaser a certain commodity deliverable in times to come let's imagine, half a year from now. The purchaser, who could be looking to be certain that he has sufficient supply of the aforementioned commodity in future times would certainly be interested. Both parties then make up a contract whereby a cited quantity of the commodity might be deliverable for a time in the future is agreed on. That, in brief, is what commodities trading is about.

For others, it might still be a little bit complicated to understand. But the essence of futures trading lies in the understanding between the commodity supplier and the buyer of the commodity. Sometimes during the course of time between the agreement and the time of delivery, the contract may change hands as the buyer may wish to trade the contract for other lucrative opportunities.

Futures trading started with grains such as wheat as the main commodity traded. Trading eventually comes to include other commodities such as lumber, crude oil, coffee and even orange juice. Precious metals such as silver, platinum and gold also have their own futures trading market.

Commodities trading transactions typically occur in places called future exchanges. They may operate just like the stock exchange. Only this time, it's the commodities that are presently being traded instead of stocks. The futures exchange makes an attempt to settle all the futures contracts being traded so as to aid quicker and more practical liquidity on the contract's expiry date.

The futures exchange trading floors are generally split into certain pits or rings where traders stand facing one another. Each ring has their chosen sort of traded futures contract. The exchange can house different commodities trading for a spread of commodities. It can be very common to see a pit trading wheat alongside a pit trading in crude oil and soybean. The futures exchange trading floor typically only permit members to trade and speculate. Non-members have to go thru brokers or partners who hold memberships to trade.

Just like every other kind of investment, commodities trading also has its own benefits and downsides. It needs a sensible financier to first learn all about the bits and bobs of commodities trading before venturing out into the chances that it may provide.




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