slide 1: Commodity trading guide: Learn how to trade commodities in 2020
Commodity trading has been gaining increased momentum among traders and
financial institutions due to the high intraday opportunities it provides. Below we will
provide an overview of commodity trading and how you can take advantage of this
asset class to diversify your portfolio.
What are commodities
Commodities range from precious metals such as gold platinum silver and palladium
to energy sources such as oil and gas. Agricultural commodities are also highly popular
in online trading and these include coffee sugar wheat and corn.
Commodity trading has become widely accessible in recent years due to CFDs
Contracts for Difference which allow for buying and selling these assets online in
order to profit from their intraday price fluctuations.
The global economy heavily relies on these valuable assets as they literally provide the
fuel that drives the developed world.
For example you may already be keeping an eye out for changes in oil prices due to
how it may affect your monthly gas expenses however fluctuations in oil prices can
profoundly impact the daily operation and revenue streams of thousands of
companies in a variety of different industries across the world.
Countries with an economy that depends on the export of their commodities typically
benefit from an increase in commodity prices however it’s worth pointing out that a
price hike can also translate to reduced demand.
On the other hand economies that rely on the import of raw materials and
commodities from their trade partners will welcome a decrease in prices as it will
reduce overall costs.
slide 2: What affects commodity prices
While trading commodities can be highly profitable it’s worth noting that they entail
a certain degree of risk due to the fact that the value of commodities is highly
vulnerable to external factors such as natural disasters diseases and other geopolitical
events and developments.
These events can be highly unpredictable and can directly impact the supply and
demand of commodities on the world stage.
In fact the forces of supply and demand are a highly important aspect in the
fundamental analysis of a commodity’s price. If production of a commodity runs
uncontrolled and inventories start piling up then the increased supply will eventually
drive prices down.
Similarly when a natural disaster such as a storm interferes with the supply chain the
reduced availability will lead to scarcity which generally translates to increased prices
across the board.
Another factor that can have a major influence in the price of commodities is the
traders and speculators themselves. This is particularly true for technical traders who
monitor the charts for opportunities based on price action patterns such as support
and resistance.
Since technical analysis is a highly popular approach of determining entry points in the
market and the majority of traders rely on the same technical indicators to plan their
trades a vast number of traders that buy or sell at a specific price point are likely to
influence the overall market direction.
Commodity trading advantages
Trading commodities with a forex broker is both straightforward and cost-effective
due to the use of leverage no commissions and low barrier to entry.
Commodity traders also get access to a diverse range of tradable assets each with its
own unique advantages and disadvantages. Gold for example is one of the most
slide 3: widely traded commodities in the financial markets because of its inherent stability
and growth over time.
Gold is also considered a safe-haven investment as it tends to appreciate in value even
during times of economic crisis and uncertainty. When the economy is facing a
downturn investors prefer stable assets that are more likely to retain their value
compared to the more volatile stock and currency markets.
How to trade commodity CFDs
CFD trading allow traders to speculate on commodity prices and realize substantial
returns regardless of market direction or initial investment amount. Utilizing the
powerful leverage that comes with CFD trading commodity traders can enjoy greater
returns quickly and efficiently.
For example opening a 1 lot buy position in gold XAU/USD at the price of 1671.20
which was the average going rate on the 5
th
of June 2020 and closing the trade at
1713.04 on the 8
th
of June 2020 – we would realize a profit of approximately 4184.
Admittedly it’s important to note that if the price of gold didn’t move to the upside
or we didn’t manage to close the trade while the price was ranging higher than our
entry point – this trade could have resulted in a loss instead. This is why it’s always
important to make use of a risk-management strategy and protective stop loss orders
available in the platform at all times.
However as already stated CFDs allow traders to profit even if the prices are moving
downward as well. Using the same example as above if the price of gold moved in the
opposite direction and dropped from 1713.04 to 1671.20 traders with sell positions
would enjoy an equal profit of 4.184.
Why trade commodities with CM Trading
CM Trading provides clients with access to a wide range of tradable commodities with
50:1 leverage ratio with the exception of gold and silver which offer 100:1.
slide 4: Trade the following commodities:
• Gold silver platinum copper and palladium
• Corn wheat coffee and sugar
• Gas Crude and Brent oil
Aside from the superior trading conditions available exclusively to CM Trading clients
we also provide comprehensive trading education for traders of all skill levels through
our weekly online webinars and workshops.
Each client receives a customized education package with learning resources covering
the basics of trading the markets as well as advanced tips and strategies.
For further information and guidance clients can get in touch with their personal
Trading Specialist to receive daily updates on the most favourable assets of the day
and discuss risk appetite and profit targets.
Just click the button below to open your account and we’ll help you get started in the
exciting world of commodity trading today.
Register now