Essential commodity trading resources to stay current with the ever-changing marketplace
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Futures Quotes and Charts - Our futures quotes and commodity charts include complete market data and enhanced features such as key technical numbers.
Futures Calendars & Reference Guide - Access our fully dynamic Futures and Futures Options e-Calendar and Reference Guide. It’s packed with valuable futures and options trading information, and it’s searchable, sortable and printer-friendly.
Contract Specifications and Trading Hours - View futures contract symbols and size, trading hours, delivery months, point values and tick fluctuations, broken down by exchange.
Margin Requirements - View our latest Margin Requirements. We always offer exchange minimum margins with reduced daytrading margins. Subject to change based on market conditions and exchange guidelines.
Futures Calculator - Use our futures calculator to calculate profit / loss for commodity futures trades by selecting the market of your choice and entering entry and exit prices.
Order Entry Handbook - Our Order Entry Handbook provides a complete description of all types of futures orders, how they are executed and which are accepted by our member exchanges.
Trade Log - Our Trade Log is ideal for paper trading and can help all traders to keep track of their positions. Simply download the form and print. * Acrobat Reader Required.Educational articles I wrote focusing on all aspects of trading
Beyond the Spotlight Series – This weekly series examines chart formations, along with its technical indicators, of two or three commodity markets. The videos are published on Mondays and may lead to trading recommendations published by the Trade Spotlight advisory service that week.
Market Spotlight Series – A series of 40 plus commodities covering the history and background for each market, exchange defined contract specifications, key factors that influence the underlying market, and more.
Recap Of the December “Data Feed Trade” (1/26/2021) - Here is a recap of the “Data Feed Trade” from December 2020. The “Data Feed Trade” is a strategy to collect premium once a month to offset your monthly exchange data fees. You can read all of the details of this strategy in the following article. Paying Exchange Market Data Fees Every Month? DON’T! The… Read more.
Market Spotlight: Bitcoin (1/9/2018) - A cryptocurrency is a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange using cryptography to secure transactions, control creation, and verify transactions. The first such cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, was introduced in 2009. In 2017, the exchanges launched a Bitcoin futures contract. The CBOE contract launched on Sunday, December 10, while the CME contract launched on Monday, December 18.
Trading Option Spreads, While Fading Time Decay (12/19/2013) - Commodity option contracts are decaying assets. Unlike futures contracts from which they are a derivative, option contract values are lost each day to time decay. Therefore, it is prudent to liquidate long option positions even if the target price is not yet realized before time value diminishes the premium.
Do You Understand Option Expiration, Exercising, and Assignment? Now You Will. (1/31/2013) - It is essential to understand option expiration, exercising, and assignment as a commodity option trader. Know these principles, whether purchasing outright calls or puts, selling or “writing” option contracts, or using complex option spread strategies. Not only will you be better equipped for such events, but also having this acumen could potentially improve your trading performance.
Wheat’s the Difference? (4/20/2012) - When talking about Wheat futures, it is important to understand that there are three distinct contracts. Not only are the three contracts based on different Wheat products, but each trade at three different exchanges. It’s important to be aware of the contract differences as the price patterns may also differ.
Size Does Matter When Trading Mini Agricultural Contracts (3/28/2012) - Since 2007, when the Chicago Board of Trade introduced mini-sized agricultural contracts, the products have become more attractive to traders since inception, as witnessed by the increase in trading volume. While the mini-corn, mini-wheat, and mini-soybean futures contracts mirror their respective standard contract brethren, there are some nuances to consider while trading: Margin Requirements, Price Differential, Trading Volume and Open Interest and Trading Hours.
Deep Out-Of-The-Money Options: A Calculated Risk (11/23/2011) - The trading strategy of purchasing a deep out-of-the-money call or put option has been referenced as purchasing a "lottery ticket". Both present an opportunity for profits but with a low rate of success. Depending on how far out-of-the-money the strike price and time remaining until expiration, it would take a considerable move in the underlying futures market to profit.
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Educational videos focusing on all aspects of trading
Placing Futures Orders (7/12/2013) - This video will detail the manner in which to execute a futures trade through your commodities broker.
Placing Options Orders (7/12/2013) - This video will detail the manner in which to execute a commodity option trade through your commodities broker.
Strategy Spotlight – Double Bottom Reversal Formation (10/24/2013) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, explains a Double Bottom Reversal Formation as part of his Strategy Spotlight video series.
Strategy Spotlight – Futures Spread Breakdown (10/24/2013) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, breaks down a Futures Spread as part of his Strategy Spotlight video series.
Strategy Spotlight – Inverted Head and Shoulder Formation (10/24/2013) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, explains the Inverted Head and Shoulder Formation as part of his Strategy Spotlight video series.
Strategy Spotlight – Momentum Entry Technique (10/24/2013) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, explains the Momentum Entry Technique as part of his Strategy Spotlight video series.
Strategy Spotlight – Narrow vs. Deferred (6/5/2014) - Don DeBartolo explains the Nearby vs. Deferred Spread trading and it's value. Learn about Contango, backwardation and Spread Trading strategies to use in the market.
Strategy Spotlight – Pennant Formation (10/24/2013) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, explains the Pennant Formation as part of his Strategy Spotlight video series.
Strategy Spotlight – Trend Line Formation (10/24/2013) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, explains a Trend Line Formation as part of his Strategy Spotlight video series.
Strategy Spotlight – Wave Projection (10/24/2013) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, explains the Wave Projection as part of his Strategy Spotlight video series
Strategy Spotlight – Why Futures Spreads? (10/28/2013) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, breaks down the benefits of using futures spread trading as part of his Strategy Spotlight video series.
Strategy Spotlight – Widening vs. Narrowing (11/1/2013) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, breaks down the mechanics of Widening vs. Narrowing in futures spreads as part of his Strategy Spotlight video series.
Savvy Options Trading: Contract Logistics (10/24/2013) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, discusses the logistics of an option contract as part of his Savvy Options Trading video series.
Savvy Options Trading: Writing Options (10/24/2013) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, discusses writing options as part of his Savvy Options Trading video series.
Paper Trading (10/24/2013) - This video will create a foundation for paper trading commodity contracts.
Trade Spotlight Webinar (03-28-2012) (10/24/2013) - This video is an archive of the Trade Spotlight presentation from Wednesday, March 28, 2012. This presentation breaks down past, current and future trade recommendations of the Trade Spotlight advisory service.
Chicago Trading Seminar: Intra-Market vs. Inter-Commodity (12/11/2013) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, defines Intra-Market vs.Inter-Commodity spreads at the GBE Chicago trading seminar on June 22, 2013.
Chicago Trading Seminar: Joke II (12/11/2013) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, tells a joke to the audience at the GBE Chicago trading seminar on June 22, 2013.
Chicago Trading Seminar: Placing Spread Orders Through Your Broker (2/6/2014) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, explains how to place a futures spread trade order through your broker at the GBE Chicago trading seminar on June 22, 2013.
Chicago Trading Seminar: Seasonals Defined (1/7/2014) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, defines the seasonality of the markets at the GBE Chicago trading seminar on June 22, 2013.
Grant’s Pass, OR Trading Seminar: Joke (8/16/2014) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker with Daniels Trading, tells a trader joke at the GBE trading seminar on August 16, 2014.
Grant’s Pass, OR Trading Seminar: Option Contract Defined (8/16/2014) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker with Daniels Trading, defines a commodity option contract at the GBE trading seminar on August 16, 2014.
Grant’s Pass, OR Trading Seminar: The Greeks Defined (8/16/2014) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker with Daniels Trading, defines the Greeks beginning with theoretical value and implied volatility as it pertains to commodity options trading at the GBE trading seminar on August 16, 2014.
Grant’s Pass, OR Trading Seminar: Time vs. Intrinsic Value (8/16/2014) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker with Daniels Trading, discusses the difference between commodity option time value and intrinsic value at the GBE trading seminar on August 16, 2014.
Grant’s Pass, OR Trading Seminar: Using the Game of Monopoly to Explain the Greeks (8/16/2014) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker with Daniels Trading, uses the game of Monopoly to explain various option Greeks at the GBE trading seminar on August 16, 2014.
Las Vegas Trading Seminar: Account Statements (10/24/2013) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading,discuss account statements at the GBE Las Vegas trading seminar on July 28, 2012.
Las Vegas Trading Seminar: Every Trader Has A Story (7/18/2013) - Watch this presentation given by Ken Packard and Don Debartolo
Las Vegas Trading Seminar: Joke (10/24/2013) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, tells a joke to the audience at the GBE Las Vegas trading seminar on July 28, 2012.
Las Vegas Trading Seminar: Stop Losses & Targets (10/24/2013) - Don DeBartolo, a senior broker at Daniels Trading, discusses stop losses and targets at the GBE Las Vegas trading seminar on July 28, 2012.
Beyond the Spotlight: September 07, 2021 (Oil, Hogs, Milk) (9/7/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: August 23, 2021 (Euro, $, Platinum) (8/23/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: August 2, 2021 (Emini S&P & Bean Oil) (8/2/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: July 19, 2021 (Beans, Hogs, Oil) (7/19/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: July 12, 2021 (Yen, Bonds, Beans) (7/12/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: July 06, 2021 (Yen, Sugar, Hogs) (7/6/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays (Tuesday this week because of the holiday) that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: May 10, 2021 (Natural Gas & Cotton) (5/10/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: May 03, 2021 (Bonds, Cocoa, Cotton) (5/3/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below covers… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: April 19, 2021 (Bonds, Beans, Cattle) (4/19/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: April 12, 2021 (S&P, Bean Oil, Cattle) (4/12/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below covers… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: April 5, 21 (Aussie & RBOB) (4/5/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below covers… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: March 22, 2021 (Bonds, Crude, Hogs) (3/22/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below covers… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: March 8, 2021 (Pound, Platinum, Hogs) (3/8/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: February 8, 2021 (Notes, Cattle) (2/8/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: February 1, 2021 (Euro, Wheat, Notes) (2/1/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: January 25, 2021 (Canadian Dollar & Wheat) (1/25/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: January 11, 2021 (Cattle, Canadian, Bean Oil) (1/11/2021) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: December 07, 2020 (Pound, Bonds, Cocoa) (12/7/2020) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: November 30, 2020 (Aussie, Meal, Sugar) (11/30/2020) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: November 23, 2020 (Aussie, Wheat, Meal, Sugar) (11/23/2020) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: November 16, 2020 (Bonds, Silver, Bean Meal) (11/16/2020) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: October 19, 2020 (S&P, Canadian $, Beans) (10/26/2020) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: October 26, 2020 (Canadian $, Hogs, Beans) (10/26/2020) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: October 12, 2020 (RBOB, Beans, Cattle) (10/12/2020) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: October 5, 2020 (Euro, Heating Oil, Cattle) (10/5/2020) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: September 28, 2020 (Hogs & Sugar) (9/28/2020) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: September 21, 2020 (Pound, Feeders, Cotton) (9/21/2020) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: August 31, 2020 (Crude, Cotton, OJ) (8/31/2020) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: August 10, 2020 (Wheat, Copper, Bonds) (8/10/2020) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: July 20, 2020 (Crude, OJ, Copper ) (7/20/2020) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more. Beyond the Spotlight: June 22, 2020 (Pound, Cattle) (6/22/2020) - Beyond the Spotlight is a weekly video released on Mondays that spotlights two or three markets that may become trading opportunities for the week ahead. This enables you as a subscriber of the Trade Spotlight advisory service to look ahead with us, while potentially creating additional trading opportunities for yourself. The week’s video linked below… Read more.