Commodity Trading and Commodity Market Developments

By William Davies

The commodity trading universe is now based on a modern, open, well regulated network of commodity exchanges across all time zones. Primary producers and end users can trade commodities within agreed and well defined regulations and using standardised contracts and dispute mechanisms. With the result that today it is much easier to smoothly trade across the range of commodities from gold to rice and from crude oil to aluminium and sugar.

Consider that a few commodities like crude oil and coffee have been traded for a very long time in mature markets, but now we see early 21st century markets innovating with different types of futures contracts being introduced. Among these more colourful types of commodity are carbon in the form of emission permits. With the rising anxiety about the serious environmental damage from climate change caused by greenhouse gases, a fast growing market has mushroomed in emissions permits, a form of activity known as carbon trading.

Going forward we can expect to see more growth in commodity market products which place a price on the environment, for example, new products in carbon emissions, plastics, water and even the weather.In fundamental terms, commodity trading is buying and selling of futures contracts which represent commodities. In the market, you may see the zinc producer hedging his future sales from a price drop or perhaps a food manufacturer hedging his cocoa purchases from a sudden price spike caused by crop failure.

The commodity markets rely on their liquidity from the speculators who are the major players, while commodity end users and primary producers are relatively minor actors who are hedging their operations. What are the key requirements of a futures contract? That it allows a trader to buy or sell a specified amount of a given commodity in the future, at a price fixed when the contract is exchanged and based on the demand and supply at that time.

In recent years the volume of electronic trading has increased significantly as we see various exchanges merging to achieve efficiency and greater synergy. Across the globe, traders are active either on the floor of exchanges, called open outcry, or as is increasingly more likely now, via an electronically traded platform open 24 hours.

The wider availability of real time trading data and online trading software packages means that the opportunities to engage in commodity trading have reached the small retail speculator, who trades smaller amounts and now has virtually global access to the internet. While some traders look to the fundamentals of demand and supply of basic commodities in specific sectors, a growing number prefer to follow the price action of exciting trades, relying on technical analysis irrespective of the commodity in question.

The BRIC economies refer to China, Brazil, India and Russia and these emerging countries look set to continue growing over the long term and with them the growth in regional commodity markets should continue. In the Middle East we see how Dubai is rapidly emerging as an important financial centre, where one can trade WTI light, sweet crude oil, gold and silver, steel, plastics and Indian Rupee at Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange. In China, Dalian Commodity Exchange has plans to expand beyond its traditional area of agriculture commodities and move into industrial metals and other areas.

We can all see how the global credit crunch had such a profound effect on economic growth, with significant corrections in rates of growth and sharp falls in demand for commodities, as major economies and companies were seriously affected, but despite this commodities as an asset class are not seriously affected. Looking ahead to the future, as economic growth picks up there will be a resumption in demand for key commodities like crude oil, aluminium, copper, iron ore and demand for softs like sugar and wheat will be buoyant with competing food and biodiesel demands. Going forward, the outlook for commodity trading will be positive and as an activity it will again be at the centre of world finance. - 23208

About the Author:

The author,William Davies, journeys the world, observes commodity exchanges and writes for Commodity Trading Today, an online educational resource on commodities markets. Grab your free Commodity Trading Alerts and news from the Commodity Universe Newsletter now.

Why Interest Rates Are So Low

By Stacy Tran

For the last two years, money market and CD rates have been steadily falling. No matter where you look you are not going to find anything very high right now. For retirees who rely on interest income, this is a trying time. Retired people who are older have Social Security and many of them also need the income that comes from interest on their savings. With interest rates so low, this interest income has dwindled and put many retirees in a bind.

With CD interest rates and money market interest rates so low, there is really no safe place for retirees to put their money and get a reasonable rate of return. This is why retirees are also having a tough time in this atrocious economy. They don't have to worry about losing a job like many folks do but their income has taken a big hit too.

CD and government bond interest rates are usually going to be higher than those of money market accounts. This is because the money you put in a money market account is not locked up like it is with a CD. Interest rates can depend somewhat on the time frame you agree to loan the money and with most money market accounts, you can make periodic withdrawals and you can take all of it out at any time. This means you get a lower interest rate than something like a CD where you agree to leave the money in for a predetermined length of time.

Money market accounts are a place to park money that is in transition and they are very common in stock market portfolios and stockbroker accounts. No matter how much you search, you will not find any interest rates that are anywhere near as high as they were 3 or 4 years ago. Anyone that has extra money and wants a safe place to put it should be prepared to get little in return.

There is something called social lending that will give you a higher rate of return but it does come with some risk. With social lending, you are lending money to another person rather than a banking institution. This is done through the Internet and you might be able to get a rate of return of 6% or higher. In exchange for this higher rate you will be exposed to more risk as the person you loan your money to could default on the loan. Even with the risk, if you absolutely need to find a place where you can get a higher interest rate, this type of social lending is worth looking into. - 23208

About the Author:

Are you interested in learning more about the best CD interest rates? If so, please visit my website Best Money Market Interest Rates.

Trade Smart With Mini Forex Trading

By Bart Icles

Forex currency trading takes more time and effort to learn compared to other investment markets. With this in mind, why is it still gaining popularity, and with still so many new traders lining up to get into the action? Is it because it is the only investment scheme today that offers any one the chance to make big money with only minimal risks with just one successful trade deal? The answer is a resounding YES!

Mini-Forex trading market is very profitable way of trading since the lot size of a mini account is just one-tenth of a standard accounts lot size, so it gives the trader the chance to trade with lesser amounts with just a small initial capital fund, while controlling a larger currency position. An example would be if a $100,000 position is held in a 100:1 margin, the trader has only to put up $1,000, or 1% to control the position. In futures trading its about 5% of the total value of the holding, and about 25% for equities.

Every trading has its risks " mini-Forex included. Even with its high profitability rate, chances of success are slim if a trader doesnt take time to learn the ropes of the business. Its important that you - the trader, have a clear understanding how a margin account works, especially with your account. So, if in any way there are some points or issues that are unclear to you, you should refer to the account specialist handling your account right away.

A trader can lose all the money in his account if he runs out of margin (the remaining balance not tied to a position), which may happen even before a margin call is made. Others have a stop-loss order to close out positions when this happens. But it's always best to keep a regular tab on your account just to be sure to avoid risking losing one's investment.

Forex currency trading is more advantageous compared to other trade investments because it is not based on commission, and you dont have brokerage and exchange fees to contend with. Without such payments, traders can have larger spreads; therefore they are able to generate more profits in their trade. With its world-wide scale, there are always buyers and sellers around 24/7, so business is constant.

Mini Forex trading is the better alternative compared to futures and commodities trading. With its risks involved, understanding the market and having a trading system that suits your trading psyche would be most helpful to having a successful and profitable career in the highly vibrant and volatile world of Forex trading - mini or not. - 23208

About the Author:

Finding good online forex brokers starts with a desire to learn and a drive to become a great trader. But learning forex online training takes dedication and a good teacher. But once you learn how to trade and do so successfully your life will change and you have options and financial resources you never had before.

Be Realistic When You Start Trading The Forex Market

By Randall Embry

This article is an awakening to many of the hopeful traders that I have met in my life as a mentor and professor in trading. Several of these people had extraordinary ideas about the market and have developed a few intriguing theories on how they can squeeze out as much cash as they are able to from the trade market and especially the FX trade. These traders lack the basics in trading and are simply hoping for the big score.

I would like to greet the roughly 99% of newcomers to the market, the people who help the professionals and giant firms generate so much money daily. These traders from all over the globe surrender a few hundred million dollars to those who actually use their heads.

It is my opinion that newcomers to the market must have two essential things: focus and help. When it comes to focus, newcomers have to know what they are seeking, how they plan to get it, and what they can accomplish in this trade.

It just makes no sense for someone to enter the current market if that person is just going to look for the exotic and the rare, at whatever the cost, only to fall flat on his face, drawing thanks from the person at the other end of the zero-sum equation.

Every day I see traders who have held on to large sums of money they purchased off the market become investors and they never have a clue what to do with all the money. In some ways it is smart, but the big cash only comes when the economy soars, which doesnt occur often.

Consider what you want from your career. The time has come to pay attention to people who know what they are doing. These people have lots of experience in the trading market and can point out the errors you are making.

The other essential thing I said newcomers should have is help. That can take two forms: mental and technical. At this point, I want to discuss the technical aspect. This can be found in forex systems and EAs, which have found themselves lately in the position of market fad. It would be a good idea to put some money into a low-level EA, which is available all over the Web. Take it and ride with it through the live account.

From personal experience testing several EAs I can say that its a worthy use of your time and money and while some did lose me money, most actually made me more money steadily over time. Some are also trader dependent, making how you trade equally important as your trade can be amplified by a specific EA. Keeping these tips in mind can keep you from missing out on the FX trade and from making unnecessary mistakes in the market. - 23208

About the Author:

To learn more about getting a forex trading course, take a look at this website: Forex Millionaires.

Take A Forex Trading Course Before You Risk Your Money

By Gary Malone

Foreign exchange trading is a great way to supplement an income and, if you become an expert, can even replace it. If you are interested in getting involved in Forex, you may find the information provided in a Forex trading course to be of great value to you.

Foreign exchange markets are open at all hours of the night because of the time differences among various countries. Considering most people are not used to the time schedules of countries other than that in which they live, it is recommended you start slowly and then pick up the pace as you go along. A Forex trading course can help you gain important insight and knowledge about these various markets and their time schedules in order to maximize your chances for success as a Forex trader.

There is an abundance of Forex trading course available for you to learn more about foreign currency trading. The information provided varies from course to course as does the pricing so you will have to do a little bit of research in order to find the best course offering the kind of information that you're looking for.

In order to locate the best Forex trading course for your needs, you should search Google for reviews on popular Forex trading courses. This will display a listing of numerous courses with reviews made by existing customers. This method is one of the easiest and safest ways of finding out which courses will put your through hoops for nothing and which ones offer genuine training for novice Forex traders.

Narrow down the list by eliminating all the courses that don't interest you or seem legitimate, which can prevent you from spending money on a course that wouldn't have taught you much, if anything at all. With less to choose from, you'll have an easier time finding the right course for you.

On top of walking you through how to trade Forex, a thorough trading course will give you a detailed background of the Forex industry and its markets. You can also gain valuable insight on how to make opportunities out of disadvantages as well as learn in depth about different currencies you can trade. Some courses are even directly geared towards the trading of certain currencies.

It may be a little while before you are ready to start trading Forex, though taking a Forex trading course will save you from making common beginners mistakes before they happen. Being able to enter the industry with confidence is a worthy reward for a long wait. - 23208

About the Author:

G. Malone owns a Forex Resources site, and if you would like to Learn How To Trade Forex, click over to allforexshop.com and begin with a Forex Trading Course today.