Trading commodities and financial futures: a step-by-step guide to mastering the markets

Abstract

Acknowledgments. Preface. Introduction. 1. Basic Training: A Futures Primer. Futures markets and the futures contract. It is as easy to sell short as to buy long. Margin and leverage. Delivery months. Brokers and commissions. The players. A hedging example. The Exchange, 'open outcry' and the clearinghouse. The regulators and regulations. How to place an order. Conclusion. 2. The Intermediate Futures Trading Course. Zero sum game. Money management. Contrary opinion theory. Spreads, straddles, and switches. Carrying charges. Normal or inverted? The Voice from the Tomb. 3. A diabolical story. 4. The Options Primer. What is an option? How options work. 5. Advanced Option Strategies. Buying options to protect futures. Writing options as a hedging strategy. Covered option writing. Option spreads. Straddles and strangles. Butterfly spreads. Ratios. 6. Eight Winning Option Trading Rules. 1. Stay away from deep in-the-money options. 2. Stay away from deep out-of-the-money options. 3. -Trade slightly out-of-the-money, at-the-money, or slightly in-the-money options. 4. There is a time for all seasons. 5. Covered call writing is a good strategy for what appears to be a bullish environment, and covered put writing is generally good for what looks like the bear. 6. In normal markets, write straddles and strangles. 7. Look for opportunities to backspread. 8. Use options to hedge a profitable futures position. 7. How to Analyze the Markets Fundamentally. Fundamental analysis. Technical analysis Which is the best way to go? Financial futures. Currencies. Energy. Agricultures. Meats. Metals. 8. The Advanced Futures Trading Course. Does technical analysis really work? Charts. Gaps. Open interest. Point and figure charts. Japanese candlestick charts. Spread trading-a valuable forecasting tool. Why technical analysis makes sense. 9. The Most Valuable Technical Tool [TMVTT]. Bottom pickers versus trend followers. A moving picture. A moving average primer. The simple moving average. How many days should you use in your moving average? Bottom line. 10. How I use TMVTT. Step 1. Step 2. Additional rules for maximum success. 11. Day Trader's Secrets. Your nine essential day trader's rules. The trend reversal day trading system. 12. Your 'State of Mind'. Motive. Six hurdles to successful trading. Money management. If you don't feel right, you won't trade right. Your advantage. 13. 25 Trading Secrets of the Pros. Secret 1. Secret 2. Secret 3. Secret 4. Secret 5. Secret 6. Secret 7. Secret 8. Secret 9. Secret 10. Secret 11. Secret 12. Secret 13. Secret 14. Secret 15. Secret 16. Secret 17. Secret 18. Secret 19. Secret 20. Secret 21. Secret 22. Secret 23. Secret 24. Secret 25. 14. Jesse's Secret. The secret to making the big money is to maximize the big move. Jesse Livermore. Those who can be right and sit tight. Appendix. Index.