Futures and Commodities Trading

Futures and commodities can be very complex and volatile asset classes that differ significantly from investing in stocks and bonds. This means that investors need to do significantly more research before wading into these types of investments.

Frequently Asked Questions
  • Is commodity trading the same as futures trading?

    No, though they are related. Futures are a type of financial derivative in which you agree to buy or sell a certain asset at a certain price at a particular time in the future. Commodities are a type of asset representing fungible goods, such as oil, iron ore, or wheat. Commodities are usually traded using futures.

  • Which commodity is the best to trade?

    There is no best commodity to trade in the same way there is no best stock to trade. The commodities market is volatile and significantly affected by economic cycles. This means that no one commodity will be the easiest to trade or the most profitable.

  • What is futures trading?

    Futures trading is the buying and selling of a particular type of derivatives contract. These contracts entitle one you to buy or sell a particular asset, such as a stock or commodity, at a particular price at a certain date in the future.

  • What is commodities trading?

    Commodities trading is the trading of fungible goods in financial markets. This means that any one commodity good is the same as any other one of the same type. For example, any one ounce of gold is the same as another or any barrel of a particular kind of crude oil is the same as another. Commodities are usually traded using futures contracts which allow you to purchase a set amount at a particular price sometime in the future.

Key Terms

Oil Price Analysis: The Impact of Supply and Demand
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Chicago Mercantile Exchange: Definition, History, and Regulation
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Genetically Modified Food (GMF): Overview, Controversy
Staple Thesis: Meaning, Example, Critique
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How a Commitments of Traders (COT) Report Works, Types, Example
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Can Mutual Funds Invest in Options and Futures?
Low angle view of modern office buildings skyscrapers in Manhattan Midtown, New York
Commodity Swap: Definition, How It Works, Example
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Analyzing the 5 Most Liquid Commodity Futures
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Association of Futures Brokers and Dealers (AFBD)
Last Trading Day: Overview and Examples in Option Trading
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What Is the Baltic Dry Index (BDI), and Why Is It Important?
Signing Contract
Spot Delivery Month: What It is, How It Works, Example
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Spot Commodity: What It is, How It Works, Example
Businessman Touching Futures Data With Pen
Delivery Option: What it Means, How it Works, Elements
Lock Limit: What It Is, How It Works, Example
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Commercial Hedger: Meaning, Example, FAQs
Actuals: What They are, How They Work, Different Markets
Itayose: What It is, How It Works, Rules
Delivery Notice: What It Is, How It Works, Example
Against Actual: What It is, How It Works, Example
Delivery Point: What It Is, How It Works, Examples
Basics of a Futures Spread With Types & Example
Why do companies enter into futures contracts?
Forward Spread: What It Is, How It Works, Example
Traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange
Futures Exchange: Overview of How it Works, History
Business People Shaking Hands, Finishing up a Papers Signing
Initial vs. Maintenance Margin for a Futures Contract: What's the Difference?
How to Use Commodity Futures to Hedge
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How Risky Are Futures?
Calendar Spread: An options or futures strategy that involves simultaneously entering a long and short position on the same underlying asset but with different delivery dates.
Calendar Spreads in Futures and Options Trading Explained
Advance Commitment
Advance Commitment: What It is, How It Works, Example
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Basis Quote: What It is, How it Works, Example
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What Is COMEX? Definition, History, and Examples of Metals Traded
Financial Stock Market Graph Chart of Stock Market Investment Trading
What Is a Commodity Index, Its Functions, Major Examples?
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Trading the Soft Commodity Futures
Are You Ready to Trade Futures?
Backpricing
Backpricing
Warehouse
Carrying Charge: What It Means, How It Works, Example
Cash Commodity
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Cash Delivery: Meaning, Example, Pros and Cons
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Corner: What It is, Regulations, Examples
Corner A Market: What it is, How it Works, Legality
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Dalian Commodities Exchange: Meaning, History
E-Mini: Definition and Uses in Futures Trading
First Notice Day: What It Is and How It Works
Intercommodity Spread: What It Is, How It Works, Types
Inverted Market: Causes and Example
Limit Up: What It Is, How It Works, Example
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What Is Physical Delivery? Definition and How It Works in Trading
Retender: What it Means, How it Works, Procedures
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Short The Basis: What It Means, How It Works
STIR Futures & Options: Overview and Examples of in Options
Variable Price Limit: What It is, How It Works
Forward Delivery: What it Means, How it Works, Example
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Back Months: What They are, How They Work
Outright Futures Position: What it Means, How it Works, Example
Commercial Trader: What It Is, How It Works, Example
Non-Commercial Trader: What it is, How it Works
Full Carry: What It is, How It Works, FAQs
Commodity Pool
Futures Strip: What it is and How it Works