Want to learn more about the
futures and forex markets?
We can help you.
Featured Links
CME Group
The largest commodity exchange in the world with a huge learning center.
CME.com
National Futures Association
The regulatory agency that oversees the Futures Industry.
NFA.Futures.org
OnTheBid!
A Website for futures and forex traders with daily news, commentary, quotes and charts with a huge selection of books videos and more.
OnTheBid.com
Commodity Futures Brokers
Download a free simulated futures account to with live quotes and charts to trade before you invest money.
StagecoachTrading.net
Managed Futures Information
Explination of managed futures and commodity trading advisors (CTA) for people looking for alternative ways to invest in the commodity markets.
cta411.com
Futures and Forex Overview
Welcome!
This site is intended to give you an overview of the general workings of the futures and forex markets. This is not intended as an in-depth analysis, but rather as an introduction of the markets so you'll walk away with a general working knowledge. If you're considering an investment in futures or forex you should carefully consider whether such an investment is suitable for you in light of your investment history and available risk capital. The risk of trading can be substantial, our hope is to help you better understand this risk.
Introduction to the Futures Markets
A futures contract is defined as an obligation to buy or sell a specific amount of a specific asset on a predefined date in the future at a set price. A specific example would be to buy a December 100 ounce Gold contract at $750 an ounce. The primary function of futures markets is to provide a liquid centralized market to set prices.
Much of the risks in futures contracts come from the fact that leverage is readily available to the participants. People would not typically consider corn, gold or US Treasury Bonds to be exceptionally volatile markets but they would consider the futures on the assets to be risky. The readily availability of leverage in the futures markets is what leads to much of the risk (and potential reward) in futures trading.
For a detailed explination click here: More on Futures Markets >
Introduction to the Foreign Exchange Markets
The Foreign Exchange markets are a Trillion Dollar a day market that is one of the most liquid in the world. In essence, it represents the transfer of money between currencies. When dollars become Euros it represents a part of the forex market. There are over 50 major currencies in the world and each one fluctuates in price against every other one at any given moment.
The objective of the forex trader is to use leverage to take large positions in specific currencies that she feels will increase in value, allowing her to convert it back later at a better rate. In other words, buy low and sell high. The dramatic decline in the US Dollar over the last 5 years has helped to bring the forex markets to the attention of more and more investors.
For a detailed explination click here: More on Forex Markets >
There is a substantial risk of loss in futures and forex trading. You should only trade with risk capital that you can afford to lose without impacting your lifestyle or retirement plans.