Showing posts with label futures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label futures. Show all posts

The Nature of Trends: Strategies and Concepts for Successful Investing and Trading (Wiley Trading) Review

The Nature of Trends: Strategies and Concepts for Successful Investing and Trading (Wiley Trading)
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Trend identification is such a difficult art. Some think a simple moving average is enough, others use complex formulas, some just eye ball the charts. Barros instead uses his own system, based on disregarding irrelevant price info (such as a false new low), and instead looking for signs of an aging trend that is start to have new force pushed behind it. His objective isn't to pick the exact bottom, instead its to wait and see how a trend develops according to his wave system, then make a high probability entry point at a solid junction where he can manage his risk v reward. This type of thinking for trend changes and identification is far superior to the standard MA crossover type systems that exist, because it takes into account pressure that both the sellers and buyer are applying to the price movements.
His ideas and formulas do take some time to process on any trend, so don't think its a book written for those who want a simplistic solution. The great part about this book is you can truly build a workable system with its ideas alone. A lot of other books leave out key information, letting the reader seek out the missing pieces. Barros does no such thing, he gives you everything you need (so long as you can understand it) to build a solid long/intermediate term trading system.
One disappointment for me was the lack of info on day trading or very short term trades. I'm sure this was not by accident, Barros seems to know a lot about the day time frame and I'm sure he'll release another book with the day time frame perspective. It would have been nice to have a chapter on day time frame trends, but oh well.
If you're a technical trader and can't seem to find those good entry points, this is a good book for you. If your entries are fine, but you'd like a good exit strategy for long term positions, this is a good book for you. If you have just read some beginning TA books, and wish to move to the next level, this is an excellent book for you. If you want someone to explain market theories in relation to market fundamentals, probably look elsewhere. This book is more about a method you take on faith as working.

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Today's market participants have a myriad of tools at their disposal. Yet the success rate is that of old - 80% to 90% of traders fail to achieve their financial goals. This book shows traders how to get their investment act together. It covers in detail the three requirements needed for success: Winning psychology, effective money management and a written trading plan with an edge.* The Nature of Trends also provides unique tools (for example the MIDAS tool) that provide low risk trade entry by telling the trader the level at which an entry may be safely effected* Finally, the book provides the "Rule of 3" to manage a trade. These rules allow the trader to take profits and hold on for long-term profits without increasing risk

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Derivatives Demystified: A Step-by-Step Guide to Forwards, Futures, Swaps and Options (The Wiley Finance Series) Review

Derivatives Demystified: A Step-by-Step Guide to Forwards, Futures, Swaps and Options (The Wiley Finance Series)
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This is a really good introduction to derivative products. I have tried a lot of other books in this field and ended up thinking that they were far too complicated and obscure. This book is written in a very clear and simple way, and finally I have a real understanding of what is going on in derivative products, a subject I need to understand for my job in banking.

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The book is a step-by-step guide to derivative products. By distilling the complex mathematics and theory that underlie the subject, Chisholm explains derivative products in straightforward terms, focusing on applications and intuitive explanations wherever possible. Case studies and examples of how the products are used to solve real-world problems, as well as an extensive glossary and material on the latest derivative products make this book a must have for anyone working with derivative products.

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The Complete Guide to Option Selling Review

The Complete Guide to Option Selling
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A good read for those interested in trading options from a "net seller's" position. But a "complete guide" it ain't. Far from it.
The view from the authors is very narrow and they make unqualified assertions that their perspective is the only possible way to trade options profitably. (There are many professionals who make a living operating from a net buyer position as well.)
I really believe the authors completely skip the over any discussion of winning trading principles and focus soley on an argument for selling vs. buying options. There is risk both ways and the lack of a proper risk management discussion leaves a glaring hole in an otherwise good book.
Too much emphasis on selling naked positions. Spreads are briefly discussed but the only one recommended is a ratio write which still leaves exposure to naked positions. Eventually the worst happens in all types of trading, and those with naked short exposure holding overnight positions in options markets will experience something between a serious setback and complete ruin when it does.
It's a well-written and enjoyable book, but take it with a grain of salt.

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Trading Without Gambling: Develop a Game Plan for Ultimate Trading Success (Wiley Trading) Review

Trading Without Gambling: Develop a Game Plan for Ultimate Trading Success (Wiley Trading)
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This book is in the top eight out of the over one hundred stock trading books I have read. It presents one of the most important principles of successful trading: DO NOT GAMBLE, ONLY TAKE TRADES WITH A HIGH PROBABILITY OF MAKING MONEY. Author Marcel Link covers in great detail all the areas that a stock trader needs for success in the markets.
First he explains the importance of having a detailed trading plan:
1. Entering a trade
2. Exiting a trade
3. Stop placement
4. Position sizing
5. Money management parameters
6. What to trade
7. Trading time frames
8. Back testing
9. Performance review
10. Risk vs. Reward
In two areas of the book he writes about how even though great traders have a huge amount of differences about them they all share one common trait:Discipline. Whatever your trading style you must have the discipline to follow your trading plan by taking your wins while they are there, cutting your losses when it is time, and never trade to large a position and risk to much of your capital.
He touches on some of the key aspects of trading strategies, but his main point is whether you trade based on technical indicators or fundamentals you must trade a proven system that has been back tested and once you make your system rules, follow them.
The author advises focusing on one market and really know how your market or specific stock trades. He believes you can really hurt your performance watching commodities, futures, bonds, or to many individual stocks, and having to many positions on at the same time. I agree.
You will receive advice to keep the right perspective and always ask yourself "If I did not have this position on would I buy now"? Try to look over your own shoulder while in a trade and give yourself advice like you are trying to advise a friend's trading.
I really liked how Mr. Link said that you should avoid over trading and you should not always either be long or short a stock, that no position was a position in itself. (I had to follow this "no position" mantra in my major account in 2008 being unable to get a feel for any trend or support and resistance levels and saved myself from huge losses).
The author shares his personal trading rules, key principles for successful trading, favorite books and magazines. This book is a treasure test of information and advice from a real 20 year veteran trader who has done very well for himself and is sharing his knowledge with us. This is not a gamble, buy the book and use its principles and you will win in trading.

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Many people perceive trading as nothing more than a gamble. But there are still people who consistently make money trading. How do they do it? They've learned to separate gambling from trading. And the way they do this, says author Marcel Link, is by developing a proper plan. In Trading Without Gambling, Link shows how to create and use a sound game plan to improve every aspect of trading–including finding trades, timing, knowing how much to trade, where to exit, and how to adjust risk–while leaving very little to gambling.

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Real Time Proven Commodity Spreads: The 20 Most Consistently Profitable Low-Risk Trades Review

Real Time Proven Commodity Spreads: The 20 Most Consistently Profitable Low-Risk Trades
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I first balked at the high price of this book. It didn't matter that it was written by professional futures trader, George Angell. I bought it and studied the different spread trades that he dedicates a chapter each to. This book will be useful for years to come from taking these trades. The price is well worth it in just one or two contract spreads.

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This book updates spread trade Mr. Angell originally published in 1980.Learn 20 specific trade strategies that have been proven successful in real-time.One Pork Belly spread has been 100% correct since 1972!

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The Very Latest E-Mini Trading: Using Market Anticipation to Trade Electronic Futures Review

The Very Latest E-Mini Trading: Using Market Anticipation to Trade Electronic Futures
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An excellent primer for the beginning trader and good insights for more experienced traders. What stands out about this book is that Mr. Gutmann is not a professional trader, but got into trading like most of his readers probably got into trading, by thinking this looks like an easy way to make money (ha, ha). However, unlike 90% of beginning traders, Mr. Gutmann has become consistently profitable. Reading about his journey to profitability is a must for new traders. It takes hard work and he has some good advice.
The middle of the book is a detailed explanation of his trading plan. There are many concepts explained. New traders should not get overwhelmed with all the set-ups but initially focus on pull back or retracement strategies and stick to one market. I'm impressed that Mr. Gutmann can trade so many set-ups.
The set-ups are straight forward (most are available in TradeStation and the author will send you the indicators and TradeStation workspaces for a modest fee) and you won't find much more information from on-line trading schools or seminars. More experienced traders will appreciate the discussion on the expected values of one, two and three tier trades.
I enjoyed the book and can't wait to hear more from Mr. Gutmann as his trading evolves.


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Exotic Options Trading (The Wiley Finance Series) Review

Exotic Options Trading (The Wiley Finance Series)
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This book is an excellent resource and expose of most exotic options traded around the globe. It cuts to the really essential parts of the options quickly. No in-depth math analysis. De Weert lists the essential formulas and payoff functions in a readable and understandable format. He also gives some practical hints and explains some pitfalls one should be aware of. Both traders and quants will find this an excellent reference.

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Written by an experienced trader and consultant, Frans de Weert's Exotic Options Trading offers a risk-focused approach to the pricing of exotic options. By giving readers the necessary tools to understand exotic options, this book serves as a manual to equip the reader with the skills to price and risk manage the most common and the most complex exotic options.

De Weert begins by explaining the risks associated with trading an exotic option before dissecting these risks through a detailed analysis of the actual economics and Greeks rather than solely stating the mathematical formulae. The book limits the use of mathematics to explain exotic options from an economic and risk perspective by means of real life examples leading to a practical interpretation of the mathematical pricing formulae.

The book covers conventional options, digital options, barrier options, cliquets, quanto options, outperformance options and variance swaps, and explains difficult concepts in simple terms, with a practical approach that gives the reader a full understanding of every aspect of each exotic option. The book also discusses structured notes with exotic options embedded in them, such as reverse convertibles, callable and puttable reverse convertibles and autocallables and shows the rationale behind these structures and their associated risks.

For each exotic option, the author makes clear why there is an investor demand; explains where the risks lie and how this affects the actual pricing; shows how best to hedge any vega or gamma exposure embedded in the exotic option and discusses the skew exposure.

By explaining the practical implications for every exotic option and how it affects the price, in addition to the necessary mathematical derivations and tools for pricing exotic options, Exotic Options Trading removes the mystique surrounding exotic options in order to give the reader a full understanding of every aspect of each exotic option, creating a useable tool for dealing with exotic options in practice.
"Although exotic options are not a new subject in finance, the coverage traditionally afforded by many texts is either too high level or overly mathematical. De Weert's exceptional text fills this gap superbly. It is a rigorous treatment of a number of exotic structures and includes numerous examples to clearly illustrate the principles. What makes this book unique is that it manages to strike a fantastic balance between the theory and actual trading practice. Although it may be something of an overused phrase to describe this book as compulsory reading, I can assure any reader they will not be disappointed."
—Neil Schofield, Training Consultant and author of Commodity Derivatives: Markets and Applications

"Exotic Options Trading does an excellent job in providing a succinct and exhaustive overview of exotic options. The real edge of this book is that it explains exotic options from a risk and economical perspective and provides a clear link to the actual profit and pricing formulae. In short, a must read for anyone who wants to get deep insights into exotic options and start trading them profitably."
—Arturo Bignardi

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Day Trading Grain Futures: A Practical Guide to Trading for a Living (Na) Review

Day Trading Grain Futures: A Practical Guide to Trading for a Living (Na)
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This is the only futures day trading book I know of that deals exclusively with the grain futures markets - specifically corn, soybeans, and wheat.
The first few chapters of the book cover the basics of trading grain commodity futures. In the balance of the book the author explains and profusely illustrates his trading method, which is reasonably simple and straightforward.
What I especially like about this book: (1) you trade with the trend ("The trend is your friend" is such a bromide in futures trading that almost nobody follows it anymore. They should. It works.). (2) You execute a maximum of one trade a day. (3) You calculate your profit objectives on every trade, how many contracts you can trade, and how much risk you should take on each trade - all before you ever enter a trade. (4) You track your trades to make sure the average profits on your winning trades are larger than the average losses on your losing trades. (5) You constantly monitor your trading method execution to ensure that you're winning more often than you're losing.
Caveats: You should thoroughly review the examples in the book, practice reading intraday candlestick charts, and paper trade in real time before you begin live trading. Also, practice using the tools the author recommends for determining your profit objectives, position size and stop loss points.


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The Markets Never Sleep: Global Insights for More Consistent Trading (Wiley Trading) Review

The Markets Never Sleep: Global Insights for More Consistent Trading (Wiley Trading)
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The author makes some valid points about the globalisation and interdependence of markets. But there is a lot of repetition and the treatment is fairly elementary. Could be useful for beginners.

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Intermarket Trading Strategies (Wiley Trading) Review

Intermarket Trading Strategies (Wiley Trading)
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The Intermarket analysis is poorly covered in current literature, with few books of historical data and boring details.
Instead in this book the Author, who has mastered the Intermarket analysis, shares discoveries on market correlations, and helps reader to develop indicators and strategies for Etf, Futures and Stocks.
This book makes easier to understand today markets, and I suggest it for intraday and both long and short term trading. It is not for fiction traders who bet on markets direction, but for people really trading their own accounts, studying a lot of technical analysis and pondering experts ideas.
The book is written in plain English, contains useful info on international markets, and a lot of MetaStock (MS) codes to help users to design (or improving their) trading systems, even you aren't the best programmer. Users of other technical software can easily develop their trading strategies, because in the Appendix there are the MS formulas and Test Specifications for all systems.
Reading this book grow up your fever to go to your pc for studying the correlations Author disclosed, and training with his trading strategies !
Minus : discussion on fuzzy logic and genetic algorithms are very introductory (but these are very specific topics). Author limited his Intermarket analysis to major markets, and not all exchange products are covered.
Plus : the best book on the subject I ever red : the Intermarket concepts behind trading ideas are well explained. Trading strategies are deeply tested. Author insights help to really make money in today markets. Good value for price : many systems described would cost hundred dollars to buy !

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This book shows traders how to use Intermarket Analysis to forecast future equity, index and commodity price movements. It introduces custom indicators and Intermarket based systems using basic mathematical and statistical principles to help traders develop and design Intermarket trading systems appropriate for long term, intermediate, short term and day trading. The metastock code for all systems is included and the testing method is described thoroughly. All systems are back tested using at least 200 bars of historical data and compared using various profitability and drawdown metrics.

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The Eurodollar Futures and Options Handbook (McGraw-Hill Library of Investment and Finance) Review

The Eurodollar Futures and Options Handbook (McGraw-Hill Library of Investment and Finance)
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Having just finished reading the author's treatment of bond futures in the 'Treasury Bond Basis,' I was happy to see that Burghardt was updating some of his material from the early 1990s on Eurodollar futures. The 'Bond Basis' was an excellent and thorough analysis, and 'The Eurodollar Futures and Options Handbook' follows the same trend.
He provides an excellent overview of the institutional details of Eurodollars and their uses. The book is at its strongest when dealing with issues of the convexity bias and also scores high by not neglecting important issues like the stub period. Perhaps my favorite chapter was on callable bonds and the extension/compression risk, which, while a little misplaced in a book on Eurodlllars, still provided a very lucid explanation of the relevant issues.
With regard to options, the author touches upon some of the interest strategic combinations using serial and mid-curve options, but I feel that he could've delved a bit deeper in this part of the book. It's the only area in which I felt the book was somewhat lacking.
Having said all that, if you're looking to learn about Eurodollar futures, I can't imagine there's a better book out there. This is an excellent compilation of a number of Burghardt's research from the 1990s together with more recent updates. Even if Eurodollars are not your main area of expertise, this book will still help you to gain a more solid understanding of many of the pertinent topics in fixed income.

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International Commodity Trading Review

International Commodity Trading
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This is not really about commodities, it is a basic and general discussion about futures
and options markets. It looks like every other text that regurgitates basic concepts on futures
and options without any real in depth analysis of the individual commodities. They section on
physical markets is what I thought would differentiate this text from others..and it begins to...
but ends after 20+ pages...a bit of a rip off.

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In addition to discussing financial and commodity futures and options, this book links them to the physical economy at large, a linkage which is particularly important when one is thinking of physical commodity markets. The book looks at not only the futures of derivative markets, but it also explores the physical markets and the underlying economy.
Written by leading authors in the field of commodity markets
Contains numerous up-to-date examples, case studies, and scenarios to assist in gaining an overall understanding
Covers all aspects of commodity trading, including the inter-relationship between the different functions


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High-Performance Managed Futures: The New Way to Diversify Your Portfolio (Wiley Finance) Review

High-Performance Managed Futures: The New Way to Diversify Your Portfolio (Wiley Finance)
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I want to thank Mark Melin for writing this important book on managed futures. As a futures trader and broker I have a strong interest in the government regulated professionally managed futures asset class. After reading numerous academic papers on the importance of using non-correlated assets to best create the most effective Risk vs Reward long term portfolio, it was interesting to learn that managed futures are the most non-correlated of the asset classes. Mr Melin shows that even other generally non-corrleated assets to equities can become very correlated at market or economic dislocation when the non-correlation is most important. What is interesting is that at just such times the non-correlation of managed futures has stood out.
I have read many papers and books on managed futures and I find that this book is the most through and comprehensive, covering all the issues that an investor or financial advisor needs to understand this important asset class including:
*Investor protection based on the very strict Government Regulations that make Managed Futures so much safer than other HedgeFunds
*The topic of diversification is critical but where he gets into the nuts and bolts of the industry discussing volatility and correlation is where the book really shines
*Why differentiating between volatility on the upside and volatility on the downside better measures what investors are really concerned about as well as giving a better sense of how well the Managed Fund advisor handles adversity
*Why, as professionals understand, working out the risk issues first along with preparation for all eventualities is more important than just looking at returns
*Why diversifying even within the Managed Futures allocation between markets, methods and time frames is paramount and that once done the returns will almost take care of themselves
*How to evaluate Managed Futures Advisors and how to understand their disclosure documents
*And what I found most important and generally not covered elsewhere is how to actively manage the account once it has been established including the graphic tools to determine that the investment is not straying from the parameters that were used to establish the position.
This is a must read for anyone considering managed futures and those working to develop uncorrelated portfolios...


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CBOT Handbook of Futures and Options Review

CBOT Handbook of Futures and Options
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Good book for anyone wanting to learn about options and futures. Starts with basics and gets into more complicated strategies.

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The futures and options bible from the world's first, and America's largest, futures exchange

Through nine editions over three decades, the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) has provided futures and options traders with the self-published Commodity Trading Manual. Now the CBOT has entered into an exclusive agreement with McGraw-Hill to bring you this vital book. The Chicago Board of Trade Handbook of Futures and Options delivers valuable information on everything from the uses and purposes of the futures market to nuts-and-bolts descriptions of day-to-day exchange operations.


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Options for the Stock Investor: How to Use Options to Enhance and Protect Returns Review

Options for the Stock Investor: How to Use Options to Enhance and Protect Returns
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I recently added "Options for the Stock Investor" to my financial trading and investment library, hoping it would keep its promise describing it as logically written in a systematic and straightforward manner. I'm pleased to say it HASN'T DISAPPOINTED.
Unfortunately, this book hasn't received the attention it deserves among the many books devoted primarily to intermediate options traders/investors. I've always felt that options were explained in a much too "matter of fact" manner, where the most practical information is inadvertently ignored, obscured or non-existent.
Anyone trying to learn stock options is arguably bombarded by fearful information and disorganized, incomplete explanations. This short but concentrated book cuts through the many counterintuitive aspects and implicit contradictions involving stock options.
Beginners need only go to the Investopedia and similar sites on the internet to reinforce the Introduction and supplement their exposure to the language of options.
I've seen some of the worst. This book ranks highly among the best.

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McGraw-Hill's classic options bestseller, Options for theStock Investor, has been updated to reflect changes in theoptions market. This extensively revised second edition featuresall-new material describing electronic trading, decimalization,and single stock futures, along with increasinglypopular vehicles such as stock indexes, LEAPs, and exchangetradedfunds. The CD-ROM contains all-new OP-EVAL IIsoftware, which eliminates guesswork while providing handsoninformation on spreads, position Greeks, and "what-if"forecasting and graphing features.


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Trading Chaos: Maximize Profits with Proven Technical Techniques (A Marketplace Book) Review

Trading Chaos: Maximize Profits with Proven Technical Techniques (A Marketplace Book)
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This book is not about chaos theory, nor trading chaos, but a trading book with the first 95 pages about trading psychology, primarily Zen and Tao based, and the rest 133 pages of a trading system that comes with "Metastock". As a trading book fan and a Chinese who know Zen and Tao well, I do like the first part of it as food for thought, and definitely not as reading material to sharpen my trading edge. I doubt whether the very vague Zen or Tao approach taken by the author can be well understood and practised by western traders. Furthermore, I agree with a previous reviewer that the "trade with the trend/flow" concept preached by the author contradict a little bit with his own quasi-countertrend system presented in the second part. So, I suggest those who dont have access to Metastock nor Omega Tradestation facilities should give it a pass. It's definitely not a smart way of investing if one puts money on something that does you little good.

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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Options and Futures, 2nd Edition Review

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Options and Futures, 2nd Edition
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I personally prefer stock, bonds, and mutual funds, but you can make a ton of money trading futures and options. As the author says "People can reap huge profits, or lose their shirts".

The book gives a very good overview of all the major markets, including history of futures trading as well as how large an order should be, the typical margin put up, and how volitle of and investment a particular futures market can be, like advising corn as a good starting point and staying away from metals. I also agree with that philosophy. Another thing the author does in explaing the markets that i like is that he informs the reader of all the factors that can influence price fluctuations and how to try to time your movements into and out of the markets based on these trends. I also like that he does admit that there is a time to sell a winner and to sell a loser to cut your loses instead of going deeper in debt. sometimes it is best to get out after your first margin call.
The thing that I think makes the book most valuable are the options strategies. These also work very well with stocks and some index funds. As the author states these are very limited profit potential, but there is also very little risk. If you guess the market pretty well then there is almost no risk. My favorite of these is also the most basic the straddle option. Here you can make money if prices go up on down, but not if they remain fairly consistent. You typically purchase and at the money call ( right to buy) option and an at the money put option ( right to sell)the only risk involved is the money that is initially paid for the option. Both are purchase at roughly the same strike price so if a price swing up or down will net the option holder some money. Their are other strategies such as the bear put spread, and bull call spread as well as married options were you are actually buying futures. I personally do not like the three becasue all involve selling an options contract which theoretically can have unlimited loss potential. Unless you are very experienced and have a good track record stay away from them.
In conclusion options and futures are very risky intruments. I would advise simply playing the stocks and funds, but if you like this market i would advise buying optiosn, the most you risk there is the amount you paid for the options, and there are no margin calls, I persoanlly know someone who was almost driven to bankruptcy becasue he did not know what he was doing and got into the futures market. I must admit though that the futures market intrests me more than and other area of finance and investing.

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