How can I trade futures?

[aparoid89]

I've had accounts with capitalspreads and oanda, they only offer betting on the actual market rather than the derivatives. Where can I trade futures and options? Even better if one came with a demo account.

 

[Bint_Crusher]

Don't try out futures or options unless you know the markets. You will get wiped out. The fact that you have come on to this site to ask such a dumb question speaks volumes. Google Win Investing path to enormous wealth, they will give you all the advice you need.

 

[neil]

And you could learn from this wealth creator:

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/article-1705341/How-rich-Jeremy-Clarkson.html

 

[Jeff.D]

Hey,

Listen to Bint Crusher, dont trade futures or forex unless you know the markets well.

The thing is, you can trade a stock, and if it goes the other way - you just take a loss on what you bought, but you wouldn’t actually end up owing money unless you were trading on margin. If you were dealing with strictly cash for the order, and your stock goes down, well you loose your cash you put in. However even if you were trading on margin, and you your stock goes down, a brokerage house could just sell assets in your account to cover your purchase – if you didn’t have to money to cover your trade on settlement date.

With trading Forex & Futures, you could end up owing allot to your actual brokerage house/provider. If your betting on a currency or commodity to go up and it doesn’t rise to the price that you set within your parameters, or if the commodity, or future goes down you could conceivably end up owing a ton of money.

So, definitely trade futures, and forex, just get a thorough understanding of the markets before doing this.

I've had accounts with capitalspreads and oanda, they only offer betting on the actual market rather than the derivatives. Where can I trade futures and options? Even better if one came with a demo account.

 

[Bint_Crusher]

Hey,

Listen to Bint Crusher, dont trade futures or forex unless you know the markets well.

The thing is, you can trade a stock, and if it goes the other way - you just take a loss on what you bought, but you wouldn’t actually end up owing money unless you were trading on margin. If you were dealing with strictly cash for the order, and your stock goes down, well you loose your cash you put in. However even if you were trading on margin, and you your stock goes down, a brokerage house could just sell assets in your account to cover your purchase – if you didn’t have to money to cover your trade on settlement date.

With trading Forex & Futures, you could end up owing allot to your actual brokerage house/provider. If your betting on a currency or commodity to go up and it doesn’t rise to the price that you set within your parameters, or if the commodity, or future goes down you could conceivably end up owing a ton of money.

So, definitely trade futures, and forex, just get a thorough understanding of the markets before doing this.

Well BUGGER ME with a BIG BLACK BROOMSTICK:clap::clap:
For once somebody agrees with me.
Muchos thankos

 

[Jeff.D]

hahaha no worries man. Just hope he undertands the market very, very well before attempting, that way he doesn't loose a ton of cash, always sad to see people loose money that way, god knows I did when I first started back in the day.

Well BUGGER ME with a BIG BLACK BROOMSTICK:clap::clap:
For once somebody agrees with me.
Muchos thankos

 

[SpearPointTrader]

I would start by studying one of the many trading courses, specific to the Futures and commodities markets. Get one for a raw beginner. You need to understand what a futures contract is, how those markets work, and what they are for, as well as proper funding. You also need to understand what leverage is, and that you can lose substantially more than you put up because of the leverage used.

Futures and Commodities are very dangerous if you are not properly educated.

 

[Jeff.D]

Definitely. Listen to the poster above, good advice.

I would also recommend you get a basic, if not thorough understanding of Micro and Macro economics. It is essintial you understand how supply and demand curves work if trading futures. Understand situations like:

"If country X is heavily reliant on oil from country Y, then country' Y's oil production is cut by half, what does country X do for oil?"

There are a number of conclusions that can arrise from this situation, but perhaps a common one would be, country X would have to acquire oil from another country. This would increase market supply, and perhaps if the quantity was large enough it could very well create a market-price flucuation. Then you have to ask yourself, when do you see price flucuation? Is it immediate, is it long-term, also how long do you see this increase and/or decrease for, is it permanent, or just for a few months? All types of questions you have to ask yourself when getting involved with Forex or Futures

This senario, is only meant for example purposes and is not meant for any type of investment advice or recommendation(s). All Im saying is understand the the effects of supply and demand of the futures you plan to trade. Also understand that some commodities, effect other commodities, often times there are direct correlations between them.

Also, definitely do what SpearPoint said, and understand what futures contracts are, forward contracts, assignable contracts, short-date forward contracts, all that sort of stuff, which as SpearPoint said will be in a traiing course, specific to futures.

Hope that helps as well.

JD

I would start by studying one of the many trading courses, specific to the Futures and commodities markets. Get one for a raw beginner. You need to understand what a futures contract is, how those markets work, and what they are for, as well as proper funding. You also need to understand what leverage is, and that you can lose substantially more than you put up because of the leverage used.

Futures and Commodities are very dangerous if you are not properly educated.

 

[Bint_Crusher]

Lots of posts here from rookie members. mmmmmm sockpuppets perhaps

 

[alocineel]

Lots of posts here from rookie members. mmmmmm sockpuppets perhaps

strange that, thought that this area of the forum was for 'rookies' to ask questions. & hopefully not to be slated by other 'experienced' members for asking "such a dumb question".
kind of puts me off asking all the simple questions I have- well done old chap, im outa here before i ever got started.

 

[Hoggums]

I think you'll find you can spreadbet futures on capital spreads.

If you want to spreadbet options then IG does them and I believe finspreads does too(?)

 

[Bint_Crusher]

strange that, thought that this area of the forum was for 'rookies' to ask questions. & hopefully not to be slated by other 'experienced' members for asking "such a dumb question".
kind of puts me off asking all the simple questions I have- well done old chap, im outa here before i ever got started.

This pretty well confirms my observation. For the benefit of anybody reading nobody in their right mindwould consider trading futures on tips gained from an internet forum. If you are a mod on this site then please go and commit:clap: suicide.

 

[timsk]

strange that, thought that this area of the forum was for 'rookies' to ask questions. & hopefully not to be slated by other 'experienced' members for asking "such a dumb question".
kind of puts me off asking all the simple questions I have- well done old chap, im outa here before i ever got started.

Hi alocineel,
Welcome to T2W.

You're quite correct, the First Steps forum is indeed the place for rookies to ask questions. However, as a primer, I suggest you/they read the Stickies and the Trading FAQs first. This should obviate the need to ask very elementary questions which tend to produce rather blunt and seemingly unfriendly replies from longer standing members.

Tim.