Online Class: Investing 201 — Intro to Commodity, Options, and Futures Markets

Name: Investing 201: Intro to Commodity, Options, and Futures Markets
Price: 95.00 USD

Investing 201 demystifies the world of commodity and futures markets, providing a holistic understanding of trading dynamics and strategies to help students transition from novice to skilled trader. The curriculum covers the essentials from market history to margin trading, positioning learners to make informed decisions amid market fluctuations.

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13

Lessons
34

Exams &
Assignments
2,652

Students
have taken this course
8

Hours
average time
0.8

CEUs

Course Description

Mastering the Art of Futures Trading: Your Comprehensive Guide

Have you ever been intrigued by the ebb and flow of corn prices on the commodities market? Perhaps you possess a penchant for taking calculated risks, a zest for exhilarating financial ventures, or an allure to the strategic game that is trading. The realm of futures trading, often dynamic and tinged with emotion, promises lucrative returns, making it a magnet for those with a keen financial acumen. Indeed, it offers an opportunity to not only trade with personal accounts but also manage portfolios for a diverse clientele. Experiencing successful trades in this domain is undeniably thrilling. However, a caveat: futures trading is not everyone's cup of tea. The stakes are high, and uninformed trading decisions can lead to significant monetary setbacks.

As of 2023, the futures market has witnessed an upward trajectory in terms of volume and global participants. Recognizing the burgeoning interest and the critical need for education in this space, we present "Investing 201: Commodity Markets and Futures Trading". This course stands as a lighthouse for those navigating the turbulent waters of futures trading.

Course Overview:

Investing 201: Commodity Markets and Futures Trading delves deep into the intricacies of the commodity and futures landscape. Beginning with the roots of commodity markets, it traverses through the mechanics of futures trading, demystifying complex jargon and decoding the nuances of charts.

What's in Store?

History of Commodities Markets: Journey through time and explore the genesis, evolution, and milestones of commodity trading.
Futures Markets: Unravel the dynamics of futures markets, their significance, and the forces that shape them.
The Contract: A deep dive into the essence of trading – the contract. Understand its formulation, components, and significance.
Contract Types: Decipher the various contract types available in the market and their unique attributes.
Making a Trade: Transition from theory to practice. Learn the steps, strategies, and subtleties of executing a trade.
Trading on Margin: Understand the concept of margin trading, its advantages, risks, and real-world applications.
Regulatory Environment: Navigate the rules of the game. Familiarize yourself with the regulatory bodies, frameworks, and compliance mandates.
How the Markets Work: Decode market mechanisms, influencers, and the interplay of various factors that drive prices and trends.
Options: Explore the versatile world of options trading, its strategies, and applications.
Trading Strategies: Equip yourself with proven trading methodologies, tactical approaches, and decision-making frameworks.
Charts: Charts are the heartbeats of trading. Learn to interpret, analyze, and derive actionable insights from them.
Trading Systems: Delve into automated trading systems, their design, advantages, and practical utility.
Careers in Futures Trading: Discover potential career paths, roles, and opportunities in the futures trading ecosystem.

Who Should Enroll?

If you're someone who doesn't waver easily under market pressure, can gracefully navigate through losses, and possesses the financial bandwidth to learn while on the job, then futures trading might just be your calling. But, before you plunge, understanding the basics is pivotal. This course is tailor-made to provide you with a robust foundation.

The Futures Trading Advantage:

The futures market, with its vast potential, has been a realm where many have found not just monetary success, but also a fulfilling career. According to a 2023 report, the global futures market has grown exponentially, attracting a myriad of investors and traders. Such growth underscores the need for well-informed, strategic, and educated participants.

Conclusion:

In a world where financial decisions can make or break fortunes, being well-prepared is not just an advantage; it's a necessity. "Investing 201: Commodity Markets and Futures Trading" is not just a course; it's your mentor, guide, and the first step towards a potential career in futures trading. Equip yourself with knowledge, refine your strategies, and step confidently into the world of futures trading.

Courses Frequently Bought Together:

Investing 101: Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds

Retirement Planning

Completely Online
Self-Paced
Printable Lessons
Full HD Video
6 Months to Complete
24/7 Availability
Start Anytime
PC & Mac Compatible
Android & iOS Friendly
Accredited CEUs

Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:

"Extraordinarily Helpful"

(1,213 votes)

Lesson 1. Origins of Commodities Trading
The 1970s marked a revolution in futures trading with the introduction of financial futures, allowing traders to speculate on currencies and financial instruments beyond physical commodities. The following decades saw the expansion of futures markets to encompass stock indexes and government debts, greatly increasing their scope.
Lesson 2. Faces and Forces of Futures Trading
The futures market, historically pivotal for agricultural societies, now encompasses energy and financial products, with exchanges like NYMEX and ICE driving global economic participation. Through futures contracts, companies mitigate risks such as fuel price volatility and currency fluctuations.
Lesson 3. Futures Contracts Unveiled: Pricing Dynamics and Strategic Insights
Futures contracts represent an agreement to trade a particular asset at a set future date and price, offering a strategic hedge against market volatility. The lesson dissects these contracts' standard and flexible types, providing insights into their unique features and pricing models.
Lesson 4. The Expanding Universe of Futures Trading
Futures trading has grown from simple agricultural hedges to encompass a vast array of asset classes, including metals, energy, and stock indices. This lesson offers insights into the mechanics of different contract types and emphasizes strategic uses and market impacts.
Lesson 5. Futures Trading 101
Investors can open various trading accounts, from full-service to self-directed, to participate in futures markets. Through comprehensive analysis and strategic order execution, both novice and experienced traders can navigate futures markets to capitalize on market opportunities.
Lesson 6. Understanding Margin in Futures Markets
Margin in futures trading allows leveraging positions beyond personal capital, amplifying both potential gains and losses from price changes. Critical concepts include initial and maintenance margins, margin calls, and leveraging differences between margin and cash trading.
Lesson 7. Guardians of Integrity: The Regulatory Landscape of Futures Markets
Oversight of futures and options trading is vital in preventing market abuses, with the CFTC and NFA playing pivotal roles in protecting market participants. These regulatory entities, alongside self-regulating exchanges, work to maintain a fair, transparent, and ethical trading environment.
Lesson 8. Futures Market Fundamentals: A Comprehensive Guide
As futures contracts are traded, clearinghouses step in as essential intermediaries, securing transactions and maintaining market integrity. Traders benefit from discovering the dynamics of price movements and market slippage, factors that can elevate or diminish trade profitability.
Lesson 9. Maximize Profits, Minimize Risks: Mastering Futures Options
Call and put options have distinct roles based on market predictions, with calls purchased for bullish futures expectations and puts for bearish outlooks. Premiums and strike prices are essential to option valuation, impacting intrinsic and extrinsic values and determining in-the-money, at-the-money, or out-of-the-money status.
Lesson 10. Mastering Futures: Essential Strategies and Techniques
Successful futures trading demands strategic plans, using either fundamental or technical analysis and sometimes spread trading to navigate market complexities. A well-rounded trader combines strategic discipline and robust risk management to thrive in the volatile futures market landscape.
Lesson 11. Visual Insights: Leveraging Price Charts and Indicators
Charts in futures trading are vital for visualizing price trends and market conditions, equipping traders with the insights necessary to make strategic decisions. Mastery of various chart styles and indicators is essential for success in technical analysis and informed trading.
Lesson 12. Building Consistency with Trading Systems: Overcoming Emotional Trading Challenges
A trading system acts as a blueprint for futures traders, establishing a systematic method based on technical indicators and historical data for disciplined trade execution. It supports informed decision-making and reduces emotional bias, though its effectiveness is dependent on thorough testing and adaptation to varying market conditions.
Lesson 13. Unveiling the Careers in Futures Trading: A Guide to Success
The lesson explores careers in futures trading, emphasizing two main paths: self-directed trading with its freedom and risks, and trading on behalf of clients, requiring formal education and licensing. It outlines various roles such as Associated Person, Commodity Trading Advisor, and more, each with specific responsibilities and growth potential.

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:

Define the historical development of commodities and futures trading from ancient barter systems to modern electronic markets.
Identify the primary categories of commodities and their unique characteristics influencing their interchangeability.
Analyze the historical evolution of futures markets and discuss the impact of technological advancements on trading practices.
Identify and differentiate the roles of major futures exchanges in the United States and globally, demonstrating their contributions to market innovations.
Analyze how market factors such as spot price, forward price, carrying costs, and dividends influence futures contract pricing.
Define the components and terms of a futures contract, including asset type, quantity, delivery date, and location.
Describe the differences between physical delivery and cash settlement futures contracts, and explain how each impacts market participants' trading strategies.
Identify and categorize various types of futures contracts based on their underlying assets, including agricultural, metals, energy, currency, interest rate, and index contracts.
Demonstrate the ability to execute various order types, including market, limit, and stop orders, to effectively manage risk and capitalize on trading opportunities in futures markets.
Recognize and describe key patterns in futures trading charts, such as the 'head and shoulders,' to predict potential market reversals.
Demonstrate the ability to calculate leverage and margin requirements in futures trading using real-world scenarios.
Identify and explain the differences between initial margin and maintenance margin, and the implications of margin calls in trading contexts.
Identify and describe the roles of major regulatory bodies involved in futures markets, such as the CFTC and NFA.
Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.

Additional Course Information

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Course Title: Investing 201: Intro to Commodity, Options, and Futures Markets

Course Number: 8900105

Lessons Rating: 4.35 / 5 Stars (1,213 votes)

Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries

Availability: Available across all 50 U.S. states, this course includes key regions such as California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Georgia. The course is also open in major English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK, and Ireland.

Last Updated: March 2024

CEU Value: 0.8 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)

CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.

Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Classes

Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams

Instructor: John Chouinard

Syllabus: View Syllabus

Course Fee: $120.00 U.S. dollars