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blaugrana

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Hi,

My first post :)

I've been trading stocks for around 20 years and I now want to expand and see what are the opportunities in the futures markets (just read Jim Rogers book, Hot commodities, yes I realize it is a bit out of date!)

Initially I want to papertrade selected futures markets and I was looking for ways to analyze the charts of the most popular commodities (I wont get into interest rate futures at this point)

The problem I am having is I dont really know how to get charts for the various commodities, in fact, I cant even find the symbols! I am initially going to use the freestockcharts.com site for charts (unless there is a bettter one out theere for futures?) but I cannot for the life of me, what are the symbols and contracts I should be looking at? Initially I would like to analyze crude oil, lead, aluminium, wheat, soy beans etc (majors?)

Any info appreciated
 
Have a look the CME,CBOT,NYMEX ,NYBOT,ICE etc websites for symbols, some commodities trade on more than one exchange.. you should find out which ones do the largest volumes for the commodities you are interested in.
The CME.CBOT and NYMEX have recently merged so that reduces the number of exchanges in the US..
 
blaugrana said:
Hi,

My first post :)

I've been trading stocks for around 20 years and I now want to expand and see what are the opportunities in the futures markets (just read Jim Rogers book, Hot commodities, yes I realize it is a bit out of date!)

Initially I want to papertrade selected futures markets and I was looking for ways to analyze the charts of the most popular commodities (I wont get into interest rate futures at this point)

The problem I am having is I dont really know how to get charts for the various commodities, in fact, I cant even find the symbols! I am initially going to use the freestockcharts.com site for charts (unless there is a bettter one out theere for futures?) but I cannot for the life of me, what are the symbols and contracts I should be looking at? Initially I would like to analyze crude oil, lead, aluminium, wheat, soy beans etc (majors?)

Any info appreciated
Click to expand...

I quite liked that book - he's got a new one out which is OK as well (have a look on Amazon).

Crude, I suppose you'd go for CL or the mini version (QM).

Lead - no idea, pinch it off roofs maybe.

Gold might be better than lead (GC).

Wheat, ZM. Soybeans ZS.

This is the place to go:

http://www.cmegroup.com/

(y)
 
Thanks.

I've decided to start with oil only.

With my brokers system (thinkorswim), I have to type /QM for light crude and to get charts off freestockcharts, I have to type XOIL. Are these the same? I would like to stick to just one particular oil product and then research it and move further.



Pazienza said:
I quite liked that book - he's got a new one out which is OK as well (have a look on Amazon).

Crude, I suppose you'd go for CL or the mini version (QM).

Lead - no idea, pinch it off roofs maybe.

Gold might be better than lead (GC).

Wheat, ZM. Soybeans ZS.

This is the place to go:

http://www.cmegroup.com/

(y)
Click to expand...
 
LiveTradingZone said:
You can find all the symbols and months for most every commodity/future market at my site. Hopefully not against a rule to post this link :) http://www.livetradingzone.com/zone/contractspec.php

someone tell me if it's not allowed I will delete the post.
Click to expand...

Many thanks! Now, in a service like freestockcharts.com, if I wanted to find a chart for the next months contract for crude oil, how do I enter the symbol? is there a format? just entering CL will give me the chart for the stock of colgate.
 
blaugrana said:
Many thanks! Now, in a service like freestockcharts.com, if I wanted to find a chart for the next months contract for crude oil, how do I enter the symbol? is there a format? just entering CL will give me the chart for the stock of colgate.
Click to expand...

Most online services do not provide quotes for commodities. You can find most live quotes for the commodities here though... http://www.livetradingzone.com/zone/livequotes.php

Best bet if you have time to do some searching on which exchange is to go to CME or CBOT or ICE exchange website. But the live quotes I have are pretty accurate.

A free trial with a brokerage might get you free commodity quotes also.
 
Here's the symbol for OIL @ freestockcharts.com: XOIL.X
The bad news is, it only updates at the close of each day.

Asked support if it will ever go live. Here's reply:
We are not sure. We have passed it along as a suggestion though.
 
blaugrana said:
Hi,

My first post :)

I've been trading stocks for around 20 years and I now want to expand and see what are the opportunities in the futures markets (just read Jim Rogers book, Hot commodities, yes I realize it is a bit out of date!)

Initially I want to papertrade selected futures markets and I was looking for ways to analyze the charts of the most popular commodities (I wont get into interest rate futures at this point)

The problem I am having is I dont really know how to get charts for the various commodities, in fact, I cant even find the symbols! I am initially going to use the freestockcharts.com site for charts (unless there is a bettter one out theere for futures?) but I cannot for the life of me, what are the symbols and contracts I should be looking at? Initially I would like to analyze crude oil, lead, aluminium, wheat, soy beans etc (majors?)

Any info appreciated
Click to expand...

That’s an oldie!

Most tend to do CFDs and/or spread betting rather than futures directly these days. There are big tax benefits. Might be worth a look?
 
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