1. Home
  2. Business & Finance
  3. Commodities

Commodities: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Becoming a Broker
Learn the process of what you need to do to become a licensed commodity broker. Areas covered include passing the series 3 test, choosing a brokerage firm and what the job involves.
Futures Margin
Futures Margin has many different meanings in futures trading and includes initial margin, maintenance levels, margin call and why margin changes.
Buying a Call Option
The strategy of buying a call option in the futures and commodity markets. When to use this option strategy, the risks and benefits compared to buying a futures contract.
Buying a Put Option
The strategy of buying a put option in the futures and commodity markets. When to use this option strategy, the risks and benefits compared to buying a futures contract.
Futures Options - The Basics
Learn the basics of futures options including calls, puts, premium and strike price.
Futures Contract Specs
The main features of futures contracts to learn are ticker symbols, futures contracts, contract sizes, delivery months and price quotes.
What are Commodities and Futur
Learning the meaning of commodities and futures markets and how to make money trading commodities.
Natural Gas Futures
Profile of Natural Gas futures including contract specs, natural gas supply and demand fundamentals, and trading ideas for natural gas futures.
Commodity ETF
A commodity ETF is an exchange traded fund that invests in commodities through exchange traded futures contracts. The commodity ETF is a basket of commodities that is a simplified way to diversify your investment portfolio by investing in commodities.
Wheat Growing Seasons
Wheat crops are planted and harvested at different times around the world. Included are the growing seasons for wheat in the United States and China.
Silver Futures
Profile of Silver futures including contract specs, silver fundamentals, silver reports and trading ideas for silver futures.
Futures Quotes and Charts
Several online sources provide futures quotes and charts. Three of the top sources for futures quotes are discussed.
iPath Copper Total Return ETF
iPath Dow Jones – AIG Copper Total Return - JJC is a commodity ETF that invests in copper through the use of futures contracts on copper.
Online Commodities Trading
Online commodities trading has many benefits to commodity traders, but it also has many dangers to the novice trader.
Day Trading Futures
What is Day Trading in the Futures Markets? There are advantages and disadvantages to day trading futures. We also list the best markets for day trading futures; including t-notes, soybeans, crude oil, japanese yen and the euro fx.
Live Cattle Futures
Fundamental research of live cattle futures, including contract specs, reports and tips on how to trade cattle futures in the commodity markets.
Futures Exchanges
Commodities trade on regulated futures exchanges including the Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, New York Mercantile Exchange and ICE Futures US.
Corn Growing Seasons
Corn crops are planted and harvested at different times around the world. Included are the growing seasons for corn in the United States, Brazil, China, Argentina and Europe.
Corn
Fundamental research of corn futures, including contract specs, USDA reports and tips on how to trade corn in the commodity markets.
Series 3 Exam
The Series 3 Exam for commodity futures broker is a 2 hour and 30 minute exam that covers knowledge on the futures markets and industry regulations. It is a test that you need to study for and we have included the key features of the series 3 exam and some helpful tips for passing the test.
Gas Futures
Profile of RBOB Gasoline futures including contract specs, gas fundamentals, gas reports and trading ideas for gas futures.
Why Commodity Traders Lose
Most commodity traders lose money trading commodities. We look at the top reasons why commodity traders lose money and hope to educate commodity traders how they can avoid these mistakes.
Stop Orders
Stop order can be used to limit losses when trading commodities or to initiate positions on momentum.
Futures Contracts
What are the differences between commodities and a futures contract?
Commodity Profiles
Learning about each particular commodity is an important step before you begin trading commodities. The report includes profiles of grain, metal, energy, soft and livestock commodities.
Soybeans
Fundamental research of soybean futures, including contract specs, USDA reports and tips on how to trade soybeans in the commodities markets.
Crude Oil
Fundamental research of crude oil futures, including contract specs, reports and tips on how to trade crude oil in the commodity markets.
Commodity Trading Plan
A Trading Plan is an essential component that must be in place before you begin trading commodities. We will go over the main features of a trading plan and how to create a commodity trading plan.
Larry Williams
Book review of How I Made One Million Dollars Trading Commodities Last Year by Larry Williams. He discuses the strategies he used in his commodity trading as well as other helpful advice on trading commodities.
Option Expiration Date
Definition of an option expiration date for futures options.
Lean Hogs Profile
Fundamental research of lean hog futures, including contract specs, USDA reports and tips on how to trade lean hogs in the commodity markets.
Gold Futures
Profile of Gold futures including contract specs, gold fundamentals, gold reports and trading ideas for gold futures.
Cotton Futures
Profile of cotton futures, including contract specs, cotton fundamentals, cotton trading ideas and cotton market reports.
Selling Options
An explanation of selling options in the futures and commodities markets. Selling futures options is an option strategy used by many professional commodity traders.
Copper Futures
Profile of copper futures; covering copper futures contract specs, copper reports, copper fundamentals and trading ideas for copper futures.
Fundamental Analysis
Using fundamental analysis to research and trade commodities and futures. Supply and demand are the main factors to determine the price of commodities.
Futures Margin Rates
This is the most recent listing of futures margin rates for trading commodity futures. It should be used as an example, since many futures brokers will have different futures margins and they do change with market conditions.
Sugar Futures
Profile of Sugar futures including contract specs, sugar supply and demand fundamentals, and trading ideas for sugar futures.
Coffee Futures
Profile of Coffee futures including contract specs, coffee supply and demand fundamentals, and trading ideas for coffee futures.
Introducing Broker
Introducing Broker works with clients of commodity and futures accounts, but allows a futures Commission Merchant to handle the trading floor operations.
Wheat Futures
Wheat futures fundamental research including contract specs, types of wheat, commodity exchanges traded and trading tips on wheat futures.
Interactive Brokers Review
A review of Interactive Brokers where the focus is on the online futures broker part of their business. We are looking for low commission rates, trading platform, research and overall quality of this futures broker to report to our readers.
Cocoa Futures
Profile of Cocoa futures including contract specs, cocoa crops, cocoa supply and demand fundamentals, and trading tips for cocoa futures.
Commodities Taxes
How to calculate and file taxes on Commodities Trading using IRS Form 6781 – Gains and Losses From Section 1256 Contracts and Straddles.
Commodities Analysis
Weekly research and analysis of the commodities markets. A review of the week in trading and an outlook to next week for the commodity futures markets.
TradeStation Review
Review of TradeStation Securities, which is an online futures broker that executes trades on futures, stocks and options.
Come Into My Trading Room
Book review of Come Into My Trading Room - A Complete Guide to Trading by Dr. Alexander Elder. The psychology of trading is discussed as well as his Triple Screen System and the techniques he uses to trade futures and stocks.
Investing In Silver Stocks
Silver mining stocks are a good way to invest in the silver market. They can be more conservative than silver futures and silver etfs. A list of the largest publicly traded silver mining stocks is included.
Commodity Brokerage Firms
There are good and bad types of commodity brokers to work for. We examine how you can determine whether you are looking at a good or bad brokerage firm.
Commodity Account Size
What size of account should you start with to trade commodities? They can range from $2,000 and up.
Lumber Futures Profile
Lumber futures fundamental research including contract specs, supply and demand of lumber and trading tips on lumber futures.
Trading Commodities Online
Trading commodities online is a fairly simple process to get started, but it is not something that should be entered into lightly. The traditional method of calling your commodity broker to place orders and waiting for a callback to give you a filled order price is quickly coming to an end. Therefore, if you want to trade commodities online, we will cover the process of how to start.
Call Option
Definition of a Call Option for trading in the futures and commodity markets.
Commodity ETF - DJP
iPath Dow Jones AIG Commodity Index Total Return - DJP is a commodity ETF that invests in a broad grouping of futures contracts.
Managed Futures Search
Managed futures are an excellent way to invest in the commodity futures markets and many academic studies confirm that managed futures help increase long-term investor returns. Where do you start and which managed futures fund is best for you?
E-Mini S&P 500 Trading Course
DayTradeToWin.com offers an e-course or trading methodology for trading the e-mini s&p 500 futures contract. At The Open tends to get you into the market in the direction of the daily trend without chasing the market.
Follow the Commodities Trend
Trend Following is a very effective trading strategy in the commodity and futures markets.
Commodity Portfolio
Managing trades in a commodity account requires keeping portfolio risk low, not risking too much on any trade, trade with the trend and use discipline when trading futures and options.
Soybean Growing Seasons
Soybean crops are planted and harvested at different times around the world. Included are the growing seasons for soybeans in the United States, Brazil, China and Argentina.
Secrets of Traders Review
Secrets of Traders by Larry Levin provides a futures trading course to help traders learn how to trade the e-mini S&P and commodities. The trading program includes a Futures Trading Manual, several DVDs, a mental trading course and one on one trading help with Larry Levin.
In The Money Options
In the money options for commodities and futures. Covering a definition, description and example of in the money options.
Rough Rice Futures
Rough rice futures fundamental research including contract specs, types of rice, commodity exchanges traded and trading tips on rice futures.
Reading Price Charts
Book Review of Reading Price Charts Bar By Bar – The Technical Analysis Of Price Action For The Serious Trader by Al Brooks. This is an exceptional book on trading primarily of price action on the charts. Al Brooks uses only a 5 minute chart with a 20 period moving average to trade.
Fibonacci Trading
Book review of Fibonacci Trading – How to Master the Time and Price Advantage by Carolyn Boroden. The book details an explanation of Fibonacci ratios and how to use them in trading commodities.
Put Option
Put option definition and uses in trading commodities and futures.
Technical Analysis
Technical analysis is often used among commodity traders. It is first important to understand the basics of technical analysis before trading commodities and then you can move on to more advanced technical methods.
Commodity Price Movement
Learn how to research the commodities markets and tips on trading commodities and futures to learn why the markets move higher or lower.
Commodity Trading Strategies
Commodity trading strategies are simply the basis for why and when you will buy and sell commodities. You should have some well thought out strategies before you begin trading commodities.
Commodity Broker Commissions
Commodity brokers charge commissions per trade to their clients. How much should you pay a commodity broker in commissions? There are also ways to negotiate your commission rates.
Commodity Broker Search
You will need to search for a commodity broker once you decide to start trading commodities. I have outlined the best places to search for commodities brokers and what to look for.
Heating Oil Futures
Profile of Heating Oil futures including contract specs, heating oil supply and demand fundamentals, and trading ideas for heating oil futures.
Stop Loss Orders
Stop loss orders are a key component to your success in trading commodities and futures. Stop losses help to limit your risk and keep you disciplined when trading.
Which Commodities To Trade?
One of the first steps in trading commodities is finding out which commodities you should be trading.
Orange Juice Futures
Orange juice futures fundamental research including contract specs, supply and demand of orange juice and trading tips on orange juice.
Commodity Trading
Commodity trading has produced superior returns over history compared to a buy and hold strategy for commodities.
Copper Stocks
Copper mining stocks are a good way to invest in the copper market. They can be more conservative than copper futures and copper etfs. A list of the largest publicly traded copper mining stocks is included.
Trading The Ross Hook
Book review of Trading The Ross Hook by Joe Ross. The book details the Ross Hook trading method for commodities and futures. Joe Ross covers the Ross Hook, stop placement, trading tricks and an overall explanation of how to use the Ross Hook strategy successfully.
Trading By The Book
Book review of Trading By The Book by Joe Ross. The book details trading methods for commodities and futures from the many years of trading experience of Joe Ross.
Option Selling Strategy
The benefits of an option selling strategy for trading the futures and commodities markets. The odds are in your favor by selling options but you also have to control the risk.
Time Premium
The definition, decsription and an example of time premium in futures and commodity options.
Paper Trading
Paper trading commodities and futures may be one of the best ways to learn how to trade without putting any money at risk. Paper trading may not be completely realsitic since no money is at risk, but paper trading is is one of the best tools to learn how to trade commodities and futures.
Commodity Investing Myths
Myths of Investing in Commodities are discussed. Many investors don't utilize commodities as an investment because of many misconceptions people have of commodities.
The Art of The Trade
Book review of The Art of The Trade - What I Learned Trading The Chicago Futures Markets by Jason Alan Jankovsky. The author gives his brutally honest story of his career as a commodity broker and the struggles he went through while learning how to trade successfully.
Mastering the Trade
In Mastering the Trade, John Carter discusses trading strategies for commodities and stocks with a detailed trading plan.
Limit Orders
Explanation of the when, how and why to use a limit order in trading commodity futures and options.
The Commitments of Traders Bib
The Commitments of Traders Bible by Stephen Briese teaches readers how to interpret and trade the COT reports.
ExpressFutures.com Review
A review of ExpressFutures.com. This company is an online futures broker. We examine their commission rates, trading platforms, research and the overall quality of this futures broker to report to our readers.
Commodities Liquidity
Liquidity is very important to active commodity traders. The higher the volume of a futures contract on a commodity, the easier it is to get in an out of a market at the truest price – less slippage. Commodities with high volume are the often the choice for day traders and many large traders. Low volume commodity markets are often prone to wild price swings.
Online Futures Trading
A question and answer session with Matt Zimberg of Optimus Futures. Matt has vast experience in helping commodity traders navigate through online futures trading and using managed futures as an alternative to making their own trading decisions.
Intrinsic Value
Definition and description of intrinsic value for trading futures options.
The Logical Trader
Book review of The Logical Trader by Mark Fisher. The book details the ACD Trading Method that Mark Fisher has been using as a professional commodity trader.
Trading Volume Increases
Trading volumes for futures and commodities increased substantially in 2007 due to the bull market in commodities.
Hot Commodities by Jim Rogers
Book review of Hot Commodities – How Anyone Can Invest Profitably in the World’s Best Market by Jim Rogers. The author covers the basis the the new bull market in commodities and how long he expects it to last.
Successful Commodity Broker
Learn the steps that it takes to become a successful commodity broker. You have to open accounts, trade the commodities markets and service your clients.
Timing Techniques
Book review of Timing Techniques for Commodity Futures Markets by Colin Alexander. The book covers trading indicators, patterns that work and how to put it all together for a commodity trading strategy.
Futures Options Quotes
Futures Option Quotes is often more difficult than one might expect. Here is one online source that offers free online futures quotes on most commodity and futures markets.
Commodity Seasonals
Seasonality often plays a part in determining prices for commodities in regular cycles throughout the year. Normal increases and decreases in supply and demand for particular commodities seem to occur every year in fairly consistent patterns.
Strike Price
The definition of a strike price in commodities and futures options.
Market Orders
Learn how and why to place a market order when you are trading commodity futures and options.
Out Of The Money Options
Out of the money options for commodities and futures. Covering a definition, description and example of out of the money options.
United States Natural Gas ETF
United States Natural Gas - UNG is a commodity ETF that invests in the energy sector only through the use of futures contracts on natural gas.
USDA Grain Stocks Report
Read and understand the key components of the USDA grain stocks report.
Scale Trading Commodities
Scale trading uses a simple principle of buying low and selling high. When trading commodities, it is often difficult to figure out when a commodity is trading at a low enough price to buy, but scale trading has some fairly simple guidelines to find good buying levels.
Timeframe To Learn
I often get asked - how long does it take to learn how to trade commodities? That is a tough question to answer. The short answer is that a diligent person can learn the basics of trading commodities in a couple months. The long answer is that it can take a lifetime to master.
Researching Commodities
Researching commodities is a very broad topic and there is no simple procedure that works for every commodity trader. In fact, do not expect to become an expert and sift through mounds of data when researching commodities. You just want enough information to make rational trading decisions.
Rigged by Ben Mezrich
Book review of Rigged by Ben Mezrich. The true story of an Ivy League kid who changed the world of oil, from Wall Street to Dubai.
Review of Street Smarts
Book Review of Street Smarts - High Probability Short Term Trading Strategies by Larry Connors and Linda Bradford Raschke.
Commodity Investing Handbook
Book review of The Handbook of Commodity Investing by Frank Fabozzi. This book covers the fundamentals of commodities and how to invest in commodities.
Entries and Exits
Book review of Entries and Exits - Visits to Sixteen Trading Rooms by Dr. Alexander Elder. Interviews of sixteen traders of commodities, futures, stocks and options. They discuss their trading strategies and trades, while Dr Elder analyzes their trades.
Book Review
How To Prosper During The Coming Bad Years In The 21st Century by Howard Ruff explains the dire situation with the national debt and how it may cause rampant inflation in the coming years.
Commodity Trading Records
Keep good records of your activity when trading commodities. Learn how and why you should keep track of your commodity trades.
Futures Contract
Description of a futures contract in the futures and commodities markets.
Reality of Commodity Brokers
Commodity brokers are expected to make money for their clients. What else should you expect from your commodity broker?
Book Review: TurtleTrader
Book review of The Complete TurtleTrader by Michael Covel. The review covers the story of Richard Dennis and his bet with William Eckhardt on whether the could teach traders their trading system for trading commodities, futures and stocks.
PowerShares DB Agriculture
PowerShares DB Agriculture - DBA is a commodity ETF that invests in commodities in the agricultural sector with futures contracts on corn, wheat, soybeans and sugar.
Commodity Taxes Update
Commodities traders have enjoyed a favorable tax treatment since 1981. Commodities futures contracts are taxed on a 60/40 basis, where 60 percent of the gains are taxed as long-term gains and 40 percent of the gains are taxed as short-term gains. This may change as new tax proposals may eliminate this favorable tax treatment for 2010.
Changing Trading Strategies
One of the pitfalls many commodity traders fall into is the constant changing of trading strategies. They often spend weeks researching a particular trading method and have good evidence that it should work.
Encyclopedia of Chart Patterns
Book Review of Encyclopedia of Chart Patterns Second Edition by Thomas Bulkowski. The author compiled in-depth research on technical chart patterns and rates the success of each pattern.
The Truth About Day Trading
Book Review of The Truth About Day Trading Stocks by Josh Dipietro. This book gives a real world view of what it takes to establish a career of day trading.
Three Skills of Top Trading
Book review of The Three Skills of Top Trading by Hank Pruden. The review covers the Wyckoff Method and how the author implements his trading strategies.
Taxes - Commodities vs Stocks
Many traders like trading commodities for the leverage, but commodities can also have some preferential tax treatment when you compare futures contracts to stocks.
Prospective Plantings Report
The USDA releases the Prospective Plantings report at the end of March each year. The report tells us how many acres are expected to be planted of each crop for the upcoming season.
Day Trading by Joe Ross
Book review of Day Trading by Joe Ross. This manual covers how to day trade futures contracts, while understanding how to read the futures markets. Joe Ross also includes many of his day trading methodologies that are easy to understand.
Managed Futures
Managed futures can be an excellent way to diversify your investment portfolio. Gains on managed futures are often uncorrelated with stocks and other asset classes.
Hiring a Broker
Most new Commodity Investors will find it beneficial to hire a full service commodity broker to help with their trading education and chance to make profits.
Commodity Trading System
Learn the basics of creating a commodity trading system including: markets to trade, entry rules, exit rules, money management, stop losses and an example of a simple commodity trading system.
Bull Call Spread
The Bull Call Spread is one of the most common futures option spreads. It is fairly easy to understand how the option spread works and to place this option trade.
Commodity News
News on commodities can often be a dangerous trap for novice commodity traders. There are major wire services that usually produce an end of day recap on why each commodity market moved up or down for the day. If you are an inexperienced commodity trader it is a good bet that you will poorly interpret the news on the commodities markets.
Commodity Trading Systems
Commodity trading systems are a mechanical or computerized means of trading the commodities and futures markets.
Short Term Trading Strategies
Short Term Trading Strategies That Work by Larry Connors reveals evidence that buying on weakness provides a statistical edge in trading. He also provides several trading strategies using a 2 day RSI and many uses of it.
Out-Of-The-Money Options
Buying out of the money futures options is often a risky trading strategy due to the time decay. A look at the pitfalls of buying out of the money futures options and some trading strategies you can use to improve you odds.
Trade Your Way
Book review of Trade Your Way To Financial Freedom, Second Edition by Van K. Tharp. This book covers the psychology of trading and how to develop a trading system with many of the features that successful traders use every day.
PowerShares DB Commodity Index
PowerShares DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund - DBC is a commodity ETF that invests in commodities in the energy, agriculture and metal sectors with futures contracts on crude oil, heating oil, gold, aluminum, corn and wheat.
Trade Chart Patterns Like The
Trade Chart Patterns Like The Pros by Suri Duddella is detailed explanation of how to trade 65 different chart patterns with specific entry and exit points from the viewpoint of a seasoned trader.
Small Speculators
Small speculators in the futures markets typically are less successful traders than the commercial traders.
Commodities Bull Market
Commodities have been in a long term bull market due to increase world demand and tight supplies for many commodities.
Investing In Gold Stocks
Gold mining stocks are a good way to invest in the gold market. They can be more conservative than gold futures and gold etfs. A list of the largest publicly traded gold mining stocks is included.
iShares Silver Trust
iShares Silver Trust - SLV is a commodity ETF that invests in the precious metals sector only through the use of futures contracts on silver.
Crude Oil Total Return Index
iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil Total Return Index - OIL is a commodity ETF that invests in the energy sector only through the use of futures contracts on crude oil.
Book Review: Option Volatility
Book review of The New Option Secret – Volatility: The Weapon of the Professional Trader and the Most Important Indicator in Option Trading by David Caplan. The review covers utilizing volatilty in your futures option trading strategies to increase your odds of success.
Fibonacci Trading
Book review of Fibonacci Trading – How to Master the Time and Price Advantage by Carolyn Boroden. The book details an explanation of Fibonacci ratios and how to use them in trading commodities.
Day or Open Order?
A futures order must be designated as a day order or an open order.
At The Money Options
Definition and examples of at-the-money options. An option that has a strike price equal to the price of the underlying futures contract.
Time Decay Of Futures Options
Time decay of futures options is a major factor option traders must consider before they buy a futures option contract. Time decay of options means that options theoretically lose money every day, since they have a limited life.
Commodity Brokers Sales Pitch
Some commodity brokers will use a high pressure sales pitch to get prospective commodity traders to open an account. You should recognize the signs and avoid these commodity brokers.
Commodity Fundamentals by Rona
Book Review of Commodity Fundamentals - How To Trade the Precious Metals, Energy, Grain, and Tropical Commodity Markets by Ronald C. Spurga. The book covers the fundamentals of commodity fundamentals.
Option Selling Guide
Book review of The Complete Guide To Selling Options by James Cordier and Michael Gross, which explains their strategies of selling commodity futures options. The book explains option selling, risk controls and profit objectives.
Underlying
Definition of underlying in commodities and futures trading.
The One-Way Formula
Review of New Blueprints for Gains in Stocks and Grains and One-Way Formula for Trading in Stocks and Commodities by William Dunnigan. This book details an excellent trading system that can be used on any actively traded commodity or futures market.
Mastering Futures Trading
Book review of Mastering Futures Trading: An Advanced Course For Sophisticated Strategies That Work by Bo Yoder. The book covers futures trading strategies, money management and the basics of trading futures.
Explore Commodities
About.com Special Features

Start your new business on the right foot with these helpful tips. More >

Easy steps to take control of your credit card debt. More >

  1. Home
  2. Business & Finance
  3. Commodities

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.