Why You Should Speculate in Futures


Book Description

This is the eBook version of the printed book. This Element is an excerpt from A Trader's First Book on Commodities: An Introduction to the World's Fastest Growing Market (9780137015450) by Carley Garner. Available in print and digital formats. Why futures are so valuable to speculators–and why speculation could help you earn life-changing profits. I encourage traders to come to futures and options for the right reasons and know what to expect when they get there. Along with significant risk of loss, there is potential for significant profits. That is why speculators flock to the markets and what keeps them coming back. For those with the willingness and the capital to speculate, the futures and options on futures markets offer some glaring advantages over other vehicles.




Risk Management, Speculation, and Derivative Securities


Book Description

Presenting an integrated explanation of speculative trading and risk management from the practitioner's point of view, "Risk Management, Speculation, and Derivative Securities" is a standard text on financial risk management that departs from the perspective of an agent whose main concerns are pricing and hedging derivatives.




Commodity Speculation for Beginners


Book Description







Commodity Options


Book Description

Don’t Miss out on Today’s Hottest Trading Arena: Commodity Options! “The authors have written the definitive work on trading commodity options. Their in-depth knowledge of this subject is legendary among industry professionals and expert traders alike, and their ability to relay their knowledge through text, pictures, and the spoken word is unparalleled in our industry.” –Lan Turner, CEO, Gecko Software, Inc. “This book captures the realities of commodity option trading in a simple and easy- to-read presentation that will be beneficial for traders of all sizes and skill levels.” –Chris Jarvis, CFA, CMT, Caprock Risk Management, LLC “Even the most experienced investors often overlook the fact that options on futures are fundamentally different from options on stocks. This book fills that gap and sets the record straight with clear and concise descriptions that are easy to understand. Guaranteed to become a true source of value creation for anyone interested in trading commodity options.” –Jeff Augen, author, The Volatility Edge in Options Trading “Commodity Options arms readers with the strategies and tactics needed to take a more active approach to managing risk in today’s turbulent markets. The authors exhaustively break down every component of a commodity option to its lowest common denominator, making this book an essential piece of information for those looking to expand their trading tool box or further build on existing option strategies.” –John Netto, Chief Investment Strategist, NetBlack Capital and author, One Shot–One Kill Trading Investors worldwide are discovering the enormous opportunities available through commodity options trading. However, because commodities have differing underlying characteristics from equities, commodity ­options behave differently as well. In this book, two of the field’s most respected analysts present strategies built from the ground up for commodity options. Carley Garner and Paul Brittain begin with a quick primer on how commodity options work, how they evolved, and why conventional options strategies often fail in the commodity options markets. Next, using detailed examples based on their own extensive research, they show how to leverage the unique characteristics of commodity options in your own trades. You’ll walk through trades from “top to bottom,” master both long- and short-option approaches, and learn powerful strategies usually ignored in options books. For example, the authors introduce synthetic swing trading strategies that systematically reduce volatility from the market. This book’s easy-to-use trading strategies are strategically employed by the author’s clients every day: With Commodity Options, you can work to put the odds in your favor, too! • Why commodity options are different—and what it means to you Understand key differences in the underlying assets and the logistics of market execution • Systematically rewrite the odds in your favor Four ways to make winning trades more likely—and losing trades less common • When to trade short options—and how to manage the risk Why careful option selling may improve your odds of success • Master strategies designed for diverse market conditions Combine long and short options to create the right strategy for any market opportunity • Exploit short-lived trends through “synthetic” swing trading Get the advantages of futures contracts without the volatility










Commodities and Options Trading for Beginners


Book Description

This book is your passport to understanding and mastering the art of options trading in plain English, while helping you confidently navigate the markets, making informed choices that grow your wealth. You'll also unlock the secrets of commodities like gold, oil, agricultural and more, and learn how they function, along with the potential benefits of investing in or trading them.The book is structured in a way that provides a comprehensive guide to both commodities and futures in the first part and options trading in the second part.Part I lays down the foundations of Commodities and Futures, including:Introduction to Commodities: Explaining what commodities are and the different types (e.g., agricultural, energy, metals).Market Mechanics: How commodity markets work, including supply and demand factors, market participants, and price determination, with examples.Futures Contracts: An in-depth look at futures contracts, their features, and how they are used for hedging and speculation, with examples.Risk Management: Strategies for managing risk in commodities and futures trading.Commodity Analysis: Techniques for analyzing commodities, including fundamental and technical analysis.Part II shifts the focus to options trading, a derivative strategy that can be used in various financial markets, including commodities. Topics covered in this section might include:Introduction to Options: Explaining what options are, their types (call and put options), and how they differ from futures.Options Pricing: A detailed look at how options are priced, including the factors that influence their value.Options Strategies: Strategies for using options in commodities trading, including hedging and speculative strategies, with examples.Options Trading Mechanics: How to place options trades, including understanding strike prices, expiration dates, and contract specifications, with examples.Risk and Reward: The risk and reward profiles of different options strategies, with examples.The book provides a practical and well-rounded approach to understanding both the basics of commodities and futures trading as well as delving into the more complex world of options trading, which can be applied to commodities or other financial assets.




Commodity Derivatives


Book Description

Commodity Derivatives: A Guide for Future Practitioners describes the origins and uses of these important markets. Commodities are often used as inputs in the production of other products, and commodity prices are notoriously volatile. Derivatives include forwards, futures, options, and swaps; all are types of contracts that allow buyers and sellers to establish the price at one time and exchange the commodity at another. These contracts can be used to establish a price now for a purchase or sale that will occur later, or establish a price later for a purchase or sale now. This book provides detailed examples for using derivatives to manage prices by hedging, using futures, options, and swaps. It also presents strategies for using derivatives to speculate on price levels, relationships, volatility, and the passage of time. Finally, because the relationship between a commodity price and a derivative price is not constant, this book examines the impact of basis behaviour on hedging results, and shows how the basis can be bought and sold like a commodity. The material in this book is based on the author’s 30-year career in commodity derivatives, and is essential reading for students planning careers as commodity merchandisers, traders, and related industry positions. Not only does it provide them with the necessary theoretical background, it also covers the practical applications that employers expect new hires to understand. Examples are coordinated across chapters using consistent prices and formats, and industry terminology is used so students can become familiar with standard terms and concepts. This book is organized into 18 chapters, corresponding to approximately one chapter per week for courses on the semester system.