Here is a subject that a lot of people don’t understand at all. Day Trading can be risky. So, it is something that you should stay away from unless and until you are absolutely sure about what you are doing.
There are a number of items about Day Trading such as the minimum mantaince requirementand more that need to be taken into consideration. With the blogs and write-ups listed in this section, you can learn a great deal about day trading.
We at Cannon Trading can help you understand the different concepts of trading and present you with the latest information on the same. Our team of professional and smart people can help you in your day trading transactions and more. In order to understand day trading more clearly, we advise that you go through all the write-ups listed in this category archive on Day Trading.
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Movers and Shakers
By John Thorpe, Senior Broker
Oil took another $3 .40 nosedive when OPEC announced a smaller than expected demand growth forecast for 2025 for the Third time!
Updated: October 14, 2024 8:43 am
For the third time OPEC slashed its 2024 and 2025 worldwide crude oil demand growth rate. This year’s demand was lowered to 1.93 mln bpd, down from last month’s projection at 2.03 mln mt. Analysts noted much the downgrade came from lower expected Chinese demand. Next year’s demand growth is seen at 1.64 mln bpd down from 1.74 mln bpd previously forecast.
Flirting with the low end of the 25 month old range, November crude held it’s ground around $69.75/bbl level , a mere 3 dollars from the springtime 2023 lows.
Equity markets were upset by poor United healthcare Group end of year Guidance although they beat EPS estimates, Buy the rumor sell the fact? UNH shares down 48.25 per share or nearly 8%.
Metals cruised higher today with the CME FedWatch tool reflecting a solid 90% chance the FED will lower rates .25-50 in its November meeting is again fueling speculative buying in the Yellow Metal.
The All time high in the December contract is 2708.70 , are we flirting with that number?, yes, as of this writing GCZ24 is @ 2678.00 can we take that out? Stay tuned…
Sympathetic Silver is recouping it’s bullish stance, 1.80 away from it’s contract high @ 31.70 /oz +.37 for the day
Watch Tomorrow’s Movers and Shakers:
No Fed Speakers, No Economic Data, very few ,if any earnings that would make headlines.
About: Cannon Trading is an independent futures brokerage firm established in 1988 in Los Angeles. Our mission is to provide reliable service along with the latest technological advances and choices while keeping our clients informed and educated in the field of futures and commodities trading.
Trading Futures, Options on Futures, and retail off-exchange foreign currency transactions involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. You should carefully consider whether trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances, knowledge, and financial resources. You may lose all or more of your initial investment. Opinions, market data, and recommendations are subject to change at any time.
The FED is your friend plus the trend is your friend. The Federal Reserve is in an easing cycle which is a positive for the markets. I would like to see that trend continue and there be no change in the Fed’s stance, we don’t want to see economic reports which would hint at inflation creeping back up. Federal Reserve officials debated whether to lower interest rates by a quarter or half of a percentage point last month. Almost all participants agreed that the upside risks to inflation had diminished, and most remarked that the downside risks to employment had increased. Inflation is broadly trending down. Markets had to digest a warmer-than-expected CPI report and a one-year high print in initial claims, rising geopolitical risks, along with higher oil prices and yields, yet stocks have been able to make new highs.
With markets at all-time highs, earnings season can be a boost or a test of lower support zones. All eyes will be on the earnings numbers and what executives have to say about their outlooks. In the week ahead, a number of influential companies are set to report. While the trend in stocks remains bullish, the environment is not without its risks and valuation is full. The forward P/E on the S&P 500 currently stands at roughly 22 versus the 10-year average of 17.7, per FactSet. Elevated valuation is largely driven by expectations for strong earnings growth and easing monetary policy from the Federal Reserve. Therefore, Q3 earnings season, which unofficially kicked off, will likely need to deliver strong results to keep this bull market going. High earnings valuations are fully priced in this growth story, any miss on overall earnings can generate a valuation re-set and a pullback. I would also like to look at Thursday’s Retail Sales report. The last couple of Retail Sales reports have been stronger than expected, so this data point will provide a good read on the state of the U.S. consumer. Friday CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor showed a 0.3% month/month drop in consumer spending, which could suggest a soft Retail Sales report. If so, this could be enough to trigger a profit-taking pullback in stocks.
If NVDA can obtain a new all-time high, or the small cap’s Russell can break out to fresh two-year highs next week, these would likely be near-term bullish catalysts. I would like to see a continuation of the uptrend; However, I am very cautious as any negative news from earnings or the retail’s report can change the momentum until the next catalyst.
S&P fifth straight weekly gain. The market is hitting this level without much help from tech stocks and the Magnificent 7 as the rally broadens out to the financials in response to positive third-quarter numbers from Wells Fargo, JPMorgan, and BlackRock.
Multiples are high and portfolio managers are saying they’re uncomfortable buying at these levels, but there is a lot of money coming in from the sidelines therefore they feel that they have to participate. The index level feels expensive as well, I hear analysts are looking for mid cap size companies.
Banks delivered earnings on Friday and their prices went up, which is a good start for earnings season. Year to date; JPM is up 31%, C 28%, GS 33%, BAC 25%, WFC 24%. That’s higher than the S&P YTD.
Cybersecurity: is making new highs, see ETF – BUG.
Money is coming out of China-related stocks on some disappointment around stimulus. Those dollars are rotating out of China tech names such as Alibaba and moving into the U.S. tech giants.
Bond yields rose this week, primarily driven by the warmer-than-expected inflation data. Two-year Treasury yields increased to 3.955% from 3.923% while 10-year yields tacked on roughly 10 basis points to 4.085% from 3.981%
Earnings & Economic reports this week: Monday, Oct.14: Charles Schwab (SCHW)
Tuesday, Oct. 15: Walgreens Boots Alliance(WBA), UnitedHealth (UNH), Citigroup (C), Bank of America (BAC), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Goldman Sachs (GS) United Airlines (UAL), Interactive Brokers (IBKR) and JB Hunt(JBHT) Interactive Brokers Group Inc. (IBKR), Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC), J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT)
Wednesday, Oct.16: Morgan Stanley (MS), Abbott Labs (ABT), ASML (ASML), US Bancorp (USB), Citizens (CFG) and Prologis (PLD) Alcoa (AA), PPG Industries(PPG), CSX (CSX), Kinder Morgan (KMI), Discover (DFS) and Crown Castle (CCI) Discover Financial Services (DFS), Equifax Inc. (EFX)
Taiwan Semi (TSM), Travelers (TRV), Elevance (ELV), Huntington Bancshares (HBAN), Blackstone (BX), Truist (TFC) and KeyCorp(KEY) Netflix (NFLX), Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and Crown Holdings (CCK) Elevance Health Inc. (ELV), Travelers Companies Inc. (TRV),
Friday, Oct. 18: Housing Starts & Building Permits. American Express (AXP), SLB (SLB) and Procter & Gamble (PG) Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB), Regions Financial Corp. (RF), Ally Financial Inc. (ALLY), Comerica Inc. (CMA),
Technical Analysis:
While the SPX and DOW made new all-time highs, the Nasdaq 100 did not. But it continued to trend higher this week and is on pace to close less than 2% below the all-time closing high of 20,675, hit back on July 10th. If Nvidia sets fresh all-time highs this could signal to markets that the AI trade is alive and well and should help the NASDAQ, but other AI plays are trading well as well, such as ORCL, AVGO, PLTR.
Small caps: the Russell is heavily weighted on regional banks and health care. The Russell 2000 was the relative outperformer Friday (+1.64%), assisted by several strong earnings reports out of the financial sector Friday. The index trading range is roughly 2,050-2,260. If the Index can notch a fresh two-year closing high this could send a bullish technical signal to the markets that small caps are finally ready to join the party.
Market breadth:closed out the week strongly, with roughly 75% of SPX components trading above their respective 200-day moving averages. No change in market breadth. On a week-over-week basis, the SPX) breadth ticked down to 75.75% from 76.35%, the CCMP ticked up to 44.66% from 44.09%, and the RTY is flat at 55.87% from 55.76%.
Overseas: rates are in the news ahead of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) decision Thursday. The ECB has cut rates twice in 2024, and analysts expect a third one next week and a fourth in December, Reuters reported.
Bonds: Economy defies gravity, sending bond yields higher. The U.S. economy continues to defy expectations by growing faster than expected. Despite all of the constraints —tightening Federal Reserve monetary policy, weak global growth, wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, and low consumer confidence. GDP growth has been running at about a 3% annualized pace over the past four quarters. The major driver behind the growth is consumer spending. Supported by steady job and income growth, consumers are spending at a pace that is keeping the economy buoyant. In the Treasury bond market, yields, which generally move inversely to prices, have rebounded on these signs of strength.
What stands out to me: ever since the Microsoft Constellation energy deal, I have been looking for plays in the Energy sector particularly in nuclear power plants. Listen to Brad Gerstner podcast on BG2. I welcome any insight and news on the subject from any of you.
futures I am watching this week:
Have an amazing week.
The outlook contained in this article are of opinion only and do not guarantee any profits. Futures trading is risky and suitable for everyone.
About: Cannon Trading is an independent futures brokerage firm established in 1988 in Los Angeles. Our mission is to provide reliable service along with the latest technological advances and choices while keeping our clients informed and educated in the field of futures and commodities trading.
Trading Futures, Options on Futures, and retail off-exchange foreign currency transactions involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. You should carefully consider whether trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances, knowledge, and financial resources. You may lose all or more of your initial investment. Opinions, market data, and recommendations are subject to change at any time.
Broker’s Trading System of the Week – Unleaded Swing Trading System
Trading Levels for Next Week
Trading Reports for Next Week
Important Notices – Next Week Highlights:
The Week Ahead
By John Thorpe, Senior Broker
A relatively Quiet Data week next week, Geopolitics may be the only driver of volatility. One Caveat: the Fed Speakers dialogue may be given much more weight by investors as there will be a lot less noise in the form of Economic Data and earnings from prominent “Magnificent Seven” stocks to drive market volatility.
Prominent Earnings this Week:
Tues, pre-open United Healthcare, B Of A, Goldman Sachs, Citi Group, Johns and Johnson
Wed. Abbott Labs,
Thu. NetFlix Post-Close
FED SPEECHES:
Mon. Kashkari, Waller, 2nd Kashkari.
Tue. Kugler, Bostic
Wed. QUIET
Thu. QUIET
Fri. Bostic, Waller, Kashkari, Bostic
Big Economic Data week:
Mon. BANKS CLOSED-Columbus Day National Holiday
Tues. Quiet
Wed. Quiet
Thur. Bus. Inventories, Jobless Claims.
Fri. Housing Starts, Building Permits
Futures 101: Crude Oil – What’s in Store for the next 2 Weeks?
Hot market of the week is provided by QT Market Center, A Swiss army knife charting package that’s not just for Hedgers, Cooperatives and Farmers alike but also for Spread traders, Swing traders and shorter time frame application for intraday traders with a unique proprietary indicator that can be applied to your specific trading needs.
December heating oil Rallied to its second upside PriceCount objective before correcting. At this point if the chart can resume its rally with new sustained highs, the 3rd count would project a possible run into the 2.59 area
PriceCounts – Not about where we’ve been , but where we might be going next!
The PriceCount study is a tool that can help to project the distance of a move in price. The counts are not intended to be an ‘exact’ science but rather offer a target area for the four objectives which are based off the first leg of a move with each subsequent count having a smaller percentage of being achieved. It is normal for the chart to react by correcting or consolidating at an objective and then either resuming its move or reversing trend. Best utilized in conjunction with other technical tools, PriceCounts offer one more way to analyze charts and help to manage your positions and risk. Learn more at www.qtchartoftheday.com
Trading in futures, options, securities, derivatives or OTC products entails significant risks which must be understood prior to trading and may not be appropriate for all investors. Past performance of actual trades or strategies is not necessarily indicative of future results.
Broker’s Trading System of the Week
With algorithmic trading systems becoming more prevalent in portfolio diversification, the following system has been selected as the broker’s choice for this month.
The performance shown above is hypothetical in that the chart represents returns in a model account. The model account rises or falls by the average single contract profit and loss achieved by clients trading actual money pursuant to the listed system’s trading signals on the appropriate dates (client fills), or if no actual client profit or loss available – by the hypothetical single contract profit and loss of trades generated by the system’s trading signals on that day in real time (real‐time) less slippage, or if no real time profit or loss available – by the hypothetical single contract profit and loss of trades generated by running the system logic backwards on back adjusted data. Please read full disclaimer HERE.
Would you like to receive daily support & resistance levels?
* This is not a solicitation of any order to buy or sell, but a current market view provided by Cannon Trading Inc. Any statement of facts here in contained are derived from sources believed to be reliable, but are not guaranteed as to accuracy, nor they purport to be complete. No responsibility is assumed with respect to any such statement or with respect to any expression of opinion herein contained. Readers are urged to exercise their own judgement in trading.
Economic Reports
provided by:ForexFactory.com
All times are Eastern Time ( New York)
Improve Your Trading Skills
Get access to proprietary indicators and trading methods, consult with an experienced broker at 1-800-454-9572.
Explore trading methods. Register Here* This is not a solicitation of any order to buy or sell, but a current market view provided by Cannon Trading Inc. Any statement of facts here in contained are derived from sources believed to be reliable, but are not guaranteed as to accuracy, nor they purport to be complete. No responsibility is assumed with respect to any such statement or with respect to any expression of opinion herein contained. Readers are urged to exercise their own judgement in trading.
#Equities, #Consolidation phase, #Interest rates, #Precious metals, #Gold, #Silver, #US Dollar, #Crude oil prices, #HurricaneHelene, #Middle East tensions, #Chinese stimulus, #Redbook US Retail Sales, #Case Schiller US Metro-Area Home Prices, #Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index, #Service Sector Index, #Consumer Confidence, #New Home Sales, #Micron Technology
By John Thorpe, Senior Broker With Equities quietly trading in a consolidation phase, Interest rates following, the precious metals ,once again found footing and surprised many traders with their mid-day upside move, Gold higher by $36.00 @ 2689.00, Silver up $1.50 into the $32.50 /Troy OZ range.. The US Dollar @ 100.10 continuing it’s 2.5 month long slide, flirting with 14 month lows of 99.22. Metals should gain additional strength if the dollar falls below that number on a closing basis. Todays Headlines Updated: September 24, 2024 6:12 am Churning hurricane threatening US production, continued Middle East tensions, and Chinese stimulus measures have helped crude oil prices trade higher on Tuesday. Updated: September 24, 2024 7:00 am China’s central bank announced its largest stimulus measures since the pandemic. The bank will lower interest rates and additional funding. However, analysts say very week consumer and business demand for credit will have little response to lower interest rates, and the lack of fiscal stimulus measures will leave the central bank’s response to fall short of jump starting the economy and beating back deflationary environment. Updated: September 24, 2024 7:55 am Redbook Weekly US Retail Sales Headline Recap **Redbook Weekly US Retail Sales were +5.2% in the first three weeks of September 2024 vs September 2023 **Redbook Weekly US Retail Sales were +4.4% in the week ending September 21 vs yr ago week Updated: September 24, 2024 8:00 am Case Schiller 20 US Metro-Area Home Prices Recap **Case Schiller 20 US metro area home prices for July Y/Y: +5.9% from the year ago month **Case Schiller 20 US metro area home prices for July M/M: +0.01% vs prior month Updated: September 24, 2024 9:02 am Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index Headline Recap **Richmond Fed September Manufacturing Index: -21.0 ; prior -19.0 **Richmond Fed September Manufacturing Shipments Index: -18.0 ; prior -15.0 **Richmond Fed September Manufacturing New Orders: -23.0 ; prior -26.0 **Richmond Fed September Manufacturing Employees: -22.0 ; prior -15.0 **Richmond Fed September Manufacturing Prices Paid: +3.36 ; prior +2.45 **Richmond Fed September Manufacturing Prices Received: +1.57 ; prior +1.87 **Richmond Fed September Service Sector Index:-1.0 ; prior -11.0 Updated: September 24, 2024 9:09 am Conference Board Consumer Confidence, Present Situation, Expectations Index Headline Recap **Conference Board September Consumer Confidence Index: 98.7 ; prior revised to 105.6 from 103.3 ; expected 102.8 **Conference Board September Consumer Present Situation Index: 124.3 ; prior revised to 134.6 from 134.4 **Conference Board September Consumer Expectations Index: 81.7 ; prior revised to 86.3 from 82.5 Tomorrows Movers and Shakers New Home Sales Released On 9/25/2024 10:00:00 AM For Aug, 2024 US new home sales data for June will be updated Wednesday morning at 9:00 am CT. Analysts expect new home sales month-to-month at a 0.640 mln unit annualized pace, up +3.4%. The prior month’s sales were -11.3% at 0.619 mln unit annual rate. Micron Technology reports after the close
* This is not a solicitation of any order to buy or sell, but a current market view provided by Cannon Trading Inc. Any statement of facts here in contained are derived from sources believed to be reliable, but are not guaranteed as to accuracy, nor they purport to be complete. No responsibility is assumed with respect to any such statement or with respect to any expression of opinion herein contained. Readers are urged to exercise their own judgement in trading.
#Equities, #Consolidation phase, #Interest rates, #Precious metals, #Gold, #Silver, #US Dollar, #Crude oil prices, #HurricaneHelene, #Middle East tensions, #Chinese stimulus, #Redbook US Retail Sales, #Case Schiller US Metro-Area Home Prices, #Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index, #Service Sector Index, #Consumer Confidence, #New Home Sales, #Micron Technology
September 23, 2024 by GalTrades.com
Powel said at the Jackson hole meeting, “The time has come for policy to adjust,” The direction of travel is clear, and the timing and pace of rate cuts will depend on incoming data, the evolving outlook and the balance of risks.”
It didn’t matter if we got a .25 or .50 basis point rate cut, earnings growth will determine if the market can keep going up.
The market made new all-time highs, but only one MAG7 stock made new all-time high, META. That means the rally is broadening, a positive point for the market.
The S&P is currently trading at a forward P/E of 21 which suggests that a lot has been priced regarding the bull thesis. Valuations are high and that should be noted. How much higher can the market go up? remains to be seen.
“don’t fight the Fed” or “don’t fight the trend” are statements to sustain near-term bullish momentum. Aside from the FED cutting rates, the economy still appears to be on firm footing.
Next week the earnings and economic calendar is relatively light, outside of next Friday’s PCE report, but perhaps this can be conducive for recent bullish momentum. In the absence of news, the path of least resistance is higher. Yes, we are still in the midst of bearish seasonality, but the technicals look encouraging.
Going forward bad news is good news because the FED will need to lower rates on bad news, unless the news is disastrous.
As long as the SPX can remain above July’s prior all-time closing high 5,667, we should see continuation. An SPX close below 5,667 could introduce concerns of a false breakout to all-time highs, which would likely introduce some additional selling pressure
A positive point: 76% of the S&P 500 stocks are above there 50 Day Moving Averages and 76% are above their 200 Day MA.
Year to date the two top performing factors were momentum and growth which were up 29/27 % respectively. The two worst preforming groups were yield and value stocks. In the last 3 month that flipped. Dividend and value stocks get an uptick when rates come down.
I see analysts calling for the small caps to go up with rate cuts. The action on Wednesday didn’t show that. It may be wise to react as opposed to jumping in now. It would make more sense for mid-caps to go up prior to small caps as there are more profitable companies in mid-cap sectors.
Statistics show post-election the markets usually end higher. And in the past when the FED has cut rates in a soft landing, or no landing markets ended up higher for the next 6 to 12 months almost 100% of the time.
Cyclical, mortgage, auto loan rates and small cap stand to benefit from rate cuts.
Rate cuts can ignite small caps and value stocks. The IJR index contains a higher % of companies which are profitable as opposed to the IWM Russell 2000.
Bull market indicators usually benefit capital market plays, stocks such as; CBOE, IBKR, BLK, GS. Rate cuts should help the homebuilders XHB ETF.
If Fed rate cuts can bring short-end bond yields down to more normal rates, then banks wouldn’t have to overcompensate at the long end and longer-term loans like mortgages could come down. That would put more money in the pockets of everyday Americans and help fuel all sectors of the stock market — not to mention the benefit lower rates have on valuations.
Commodities and oil prices are down, rates are coming down. That’s all good for companies and the consumer.
Energy companies as opposed to the price of oil. historically this sector has been one of the best sectors going into a rate cut. What we didn’t have in the past is a slowdown in China, that narrative should put a lid on appreciation. There may be some individual names that are exceptions.
FINISH ARTICLE HERE
Daily Levels for September 23, 2024
Economic Reports
provided by:ForexFactory.com
All times are Eastern Time ( New York)
Improve Your Trading Skills
Get access to proprietary indicators and trading methods, consult with an experienced broker at 1-800-454-9572.
Explore trading methods. Register Here* This is not a solicitation of any order to buy or sell, but a current market view provided by Cannon Trading Inc. Any statement of facts here in contained are derived from sources believed to be reliable, but are not guaranteed as to accuracy, nor they purport to be complete. No responsibility is assumed with respect to any such statement or with respect to any expression of opinion herein contained. Readers are urged to exercise their own judgement in trading.
Important Notices – Heavy Fed Speaking, Active Data, Few Earnings
Futures 101 – Tick Size & Minimum Fluctuations
Hot Market of the Week – March Sugar
Broker’s Trading System of the Week – Copper Swing Trading System
Trading Levels for Next Week
Trading Reports for Next Week
Important Notices – Next Week Highlights:
The Week Ahead
Heavy Fed Speak Week, active data and a few earnings highlight the week ahead.
Light Earnings, by largest Market Cap
Wed, Micron Technologies After the close
Thursday, Accenture pre-open, Costco after the close
Fed Speak schedule
Mon. Goolsbee 9:15am CDT, Kashkari Noon CDT
Tues. Bowman 8:00am CDT
Wed. Kugler 3:00pm CDT
Thu. Collins 8:10amCDT, Powell 8:20am CDT, Williams 8:25 CDT, Treasury Sec. Yellen 10:15am CDT
Big Economic Data week:
Mon. S&P PMI Flash
Tues. Case-Shiller Home prices, CB Consumer Confidence, Redbook, Richmond Fed.
Wed. Building Permits, New Home Sales
Thur. Jobless Claims, Core PCE Final, GDP Final, Durable goods, Pending Home sales
Fri. Personal Income, Retail and Wholesale Inventories, Michigan consumer sentiment
How to Rollover on the E-Futures Platform video below
Futures 101: Tick Movements: Understanding How They Work
Minimum Price Fluctuation
All futures contracts have a minimum price fluctuation also known as a tick. Tick sizes are set by the exchange and vary by contract instrument.
E-min S&P 500 tick
For example, the tick size of an E-Mini S&P 500 Futures Contract is equal to one quarter of an index point. Since an index point is valued at $50 for the E-Mini S&P 500, a movement of one tick would be
.25 x $50 = $12.50
NYMEX WTI Crude Oil
The tick size of the NYMEX WTI Crude Oil contract is equal to 1 cent and the WTI contract size is 1,000 barrels. Therefore, the value of a one tick move is $10.
Summary
Tick sizes are defined by the exchange and vary depending on the size of the financial instrument and requirements of the marketplace. Tick sizes are set to provide optimal liquidity and tight bid-ask spreads.
The minimum price fluctuation for any CME Group contract can be found on the product specification pages.
Hot market of the week is provided by QT Market Center, A Swiss army knife charting package that’s not just for Hedgers, Cooperatives and Farmers alike but also for Spread traders, Swing traders and shorter time frame application for intraday traders with a unique proprietary indicator that can be applied to your specific trading needs.
March sugar has shifted its formation back to the topisde and activated upside PriceCount objectives in the process. The chart accelerated to its first upside count to the 21.85 area. It would be normal to get a near term reaction form theis level in the form of a consolidation or corrective trdae. IF you can sustain further strength, the second count projects a possible run to the 23.26 area.
PriceCounts – Not about where we’ve been, but where we might be going next!
The PriceCount study is a tool that can help to project the distance of a move in price. The counts are not intended to be an ‘exact’ science but rather offer a target area for the four objectives which are based off the first leg of a move with each subsequent count having a smaller percentage of being achieved. It is normal for the chart to react by correcting or consolidating at an objective and then either resuming its move or reversing trend. Best utilized in conjunction with other technical tools, PriceCounts offer one more way to analyze charts and help to manage your positions and risk. Learn more at www.qtchartoftheday.com
Trading in futures, options, securities, derivatives or OTC products entails significant risks which must be understood prior to trading and may not be appropriate for all investors. Past performance of actual trades or strategies is not necessarily indicative of future results.
Broker’s Trading System of the Week
With algorithmic trading systems becoming more prevalent in portfolio diversification, the following system has been selected as the broker’s choice for this month.
The performance shown above is hypothetical in that the chart represents returns in a model account. The model account rises or falls by the average single contract profit and loss achieved by clients trading actual money pursuant to the listed system’s trading signals on the appropriate dates (client fills), or if no actual client profit or loss available – by the hypothetical single contract profit and loss of trades generated by the system’s trading signals on that day in real time (real‐time) less slippage, or if no real time profit or loss available – by the hypothetical single contract profit and loss of trades generated by running the system logic backwards on back adjusted data. Please read full disclaimer HERE.
Would you like to receive daily support & resistance levels?
* This is not a solicitation of any order to buy or sell, but a current market view provided by Cannon Trading Inc. Any statement of facts here in contained are derived from sources believed to be reliable, but are not guaranteed as to accuracy, nor they purport to be complete. No responsibility is assumed with respect to any such statement or with respect to any expression of opinion herein contained. Readers are urged to exercise their own judgement in trading.
Futures trading is a dynamic and complex field that offers numerous strategies to accommodate different trading styles and objectives. Futures traders must understand the various approaches and tools available to them to make informed decisions and optimize their trading performance. This article provides a detailed exploration of several key trading strategies and concepts in futures trading, including swing trading, momentum trading, calendar spread futures trading, butterfly spread, high-frequency futures trading, crack spread, statistical arbitrage, and the impact of low margin rates on futures trading.
1. Swing Trading in Futures
Definition and Overview
Swing trading is a popular trading strategy in the futures market that involves holding positions for several days or even weeks to capitalize on short- to medium-term price movements. Unlike day trading, where positions are closed within the same trading day, swing traders aim to capture the “swings” in the market—short-term price fluctuations caused by market volatility.
How Swing Trading Works
Swing traders typically use technical analysis to identify potential entry and exit points. They look for patterns such as head and shoulders, flags, and triangles to predict price movements. Swing traders may also use indicators like moving averages, RSI (Relative Strength Index), and MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence) to confirm their predictions.
The key to successful swing trading lies in timing. Traders must be able to accurately predict when a trend will start and end, which requires a deep understanding of market dynamics and the ability to interpret chart patterns.
Advantages of Swing Trading
Flexibility: Swing trading allows traders to maintain a regular job or pursue other interests because it does not require constant monitoring of the markets.
Lower Transaction Costs: Since positions are held for longer periods compared to day trading, swing traders incur fewer transaction costs.
Potential for High Returns: By capturing significant price movements, swing traders can achieve substantial returns over time.
Disadvantages of Swing Trading
Overnight Risk: Holding positions overnight exposes swing traders to risks from unexpected market events, such as geopolitical developments or economic announcements, that can lead to significant price gaps.
Requires Patience: Swing trading requires patience, as traders must wait for the right market conditions to enter and exit trades.
Best Practices for Swing Trading
Use Stop-Loss Orders: To manage risk, swing traders should always use stop-loss orders to limit potential losses.
Stay Informed: Swing traders must stay informed about market news and events that could impact their positions.
Focus on Liquid Markets: Trading in highly liquid futures markets ensures that positions can be easily entered and exited without significant price slippage.
2. Momentum Trading in Futures
Definition and Overview
Momentum trading is a strategy based on the idea that assets that have been performing well will continue to do so in the near future, while assets that have been underperforming will continue to decline. Momentum traders aim to capitalize on the continuation of existing trends by entering trades in the direction of the momentum.
How Momentum Trading Works
Momentum traders use technical indicators like the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), Relative Strength Index (RSI), and the Momentum Indicator to identify trends and assess their strength. Once a trend is identified, momentum traders enter positions in the direction of the trend, holding the position until signs of a reversal or a slowdown in momentum appear.
Advantages of Momentum Trading
Potential for Quick Profits: Momentum trading can generate quick profits if the trader accurately identifies and capitalizes on strong trends.
Clear Entry and Exit Signals: Momentum indicators provide clear signals for entering and exiting trades, making the strategy easier to implement for traders who are skilled in technical analysis.
Disadvantages of Momentum Trading
High Risk of Reversals: Momentum trading carries the risk of sudden trend reversals, which can result in significant losses if the trader is not quick to react.
Requires Constant Monitoring: Momentum traders need to closely monitor the market to act swiftly when trends begin to reverse.
Best Practices for Momentum Trading
Trade in Active Markets: Momentum trading works best in highly active markets where trends are strong and persistent.
Use Multiple Indicators: Relying on a combination of momentum indicators can help traders confirm trends and reduce the risk of false signals.
Set Tight Stop-Losses: To manage risk, momentum traders should set tight stop-losses to protect against sudden reversals.
3. Calendar Spread Futures Trading
Definition and Overview
Calendar spread futures trading, also known as a time spread or horizontal spread, involves simultaneously buying and selling futures contracts on the same underlying asset but with different expiration dates. This strategy is used to profit from changes in the price difference (spread) between the two contracts.
How Calendar Spread Trading Works
In a calendar spread, the trader typically buys a futures contract with a longer expiration date and sells a futures contract with a shorter expiration date, or vice versa. The idea is to profit from the change in the spread between the two contracts as market conditions evolve. The spread can widen or narrow based on factors such as supply and demand, seasonality, or changes in market sentiment.
Advantages of Calendar Spread Trading
Reduced Risk: Calendar spreads generally have lower risk compared to outright futures positions because the trader is exposed to the price difference between the two contracts rather than the full price movement of the underlying asset.
Lower Margin Requirements: Because the risk is lower, margin requirements for calendar spreads are typically lower than for outright futures positions.
Disadvantages of Calendar Spread Trading
Complexity: Calendar spreads can be more complex to manage than simple long or short futures positions, as traders need to understand the factors that influence the spread.
Limited Profit Potential: The profit potential in calendar spread trading is generally lower than in outright futures trading because the price movement of the spread is typically smaller than the movement of the underlying asset.
Best Practices for Calendar Spread Trading
Monitor Market Conditions: Traders need to stay informed about market conditions that can affect the spread, such as changes in supply and demand or seasonal trends.
Use Technical Analysis: Technical analysis can help traders identify opportunities in calendar spreads by analyzing historical spread patterns.
4. Butterfly Spread in Futures Trading
Definition and Overview
A butterfly spread is a neutral options strategy that combines a bull spread and a bear spread. It involves buying and selling options with three different strike prices but with the same expiration date. In futures trading, a similar strategy can be applied using futures contracts.
How Butterfly Spread Trading Works
A typical butterfly spread in futures trading might involve buying one futures contract at a lower price, selling two contracts at a middle price, and buying one contract at a higher price. The goal is to profit from the price of the underlying asset remaining close to the middle strike price at expiration. The strategy profits if the underlying asset’s price is close to the middle strike price and losses are minimized if the price moves significantly in either direction.
Advantages of Butterfly Spread Trading
Limited Risk: The maximum loss is limited to the initial cost of setting up the spread.
Potential for High Reward: If the market price ends up near the middle strike price, the potential reward can be high relative to the risk.
Disadvantages of Butterfly Spread Trading
Limited Profit Potential: While the risk is limited, so is the profit potential, which is capped by the distance between the middle and outer strike prices.
Requires Precise Market Prediction: To profit from a butterfly spread, the trader must accurately predict that the market will remain within a narrow price range.
Best Practices for Butterfly Spread Trading
Use in Low Volatility Markets: Butterfly spreads work best in markets where volatility is low and prices are expected to remain stable.
Monitor Implied Volatility: Changes in implied volatility can affect the pricing of the options or futures contracts used in the butterfly spread, so traders should keep an eye on volatility levels.
5. High-Frequency Futures Trading
Definition and Overview
High-frequency trading (HFT) is a type of algorithmic trading characterized by the use of powerful computers to execute a large number of orders at extremely high speeds. In futures trading, HFT involves placing and executing orders within fractions of a second to take advantage of small price discrepancies in the market.
How High-Frequency Trading Works
HFT firms use sophisticated algorithms to analyze market data and execute trades at lightning speeds. These algorithms are designed to identify and exploit inefficiencies in the market, such as temporary price discrepancies between different exchanges or financial instruments. The profits per trade are usually very small, but the high volume of trades can result in significant overall profits.
Advantages of High-Frequency Trading
High Profit Potential: HFT can generate significant profits due to the sheer volume of trades executed.
Market Efficiency: HFT contributes to market efficiency by quickly correcting price discrepancies.
Disadvantages of High-Frequency Trading
Requires Advanced Technology: HFT requires significant investment in technology and infrastructure, including powerful computers and high-speed internet connections.
High Risk: The high speed and volume of trades mean that small errors in the algorithm can lead to substantial losses.
Best Practices for High-Frequency Trading
Develop Robust Algorithms: The success of HFT depends on the quality of the algorithms used, so it’s essential to invest in the development and testing of robust trading algorithms.
Monitor Latency: In HFT, even milliseconds can make a difference, so traders need to minimize latency in their trading systems.
6. Crack Spread in Futures Trading
Definition and Overview
The crack spread is a trading strategy used in the energy markets, particularly in oil and gas futures. It involves taking positions in the futures of crude oil and refined products like gasoline and heating oil to profit from the price difference (spread) between crude oil and its refined products.
How Crack Spread Trading Works
A typical crack spread trade involves buying or selling crude oil futures while simultaneously selling or buying futures contracts for refined products. The trader profits from changes in the spread between the price of crude oil and the prices of its refined products. For example, if the price of gasoline increases relative to crude oil, the spread widens, and a trader holding a long crack spread position would profit.
Advantages of Crack Spread Trading
Hedge Against Refining Margins: For companies involved in refining, the crack spread can serve as a hedge against fluctuations in refining margins.
Speculative Opportunities: Traders can speculate on the future direction of the spread based on factors such as seasonal demand, refinery outages, and changes in crude oil supply.
Disadvantages of Crack Spread Trading
Complexity: Understanding the relationship between crude oil and its refined products requires specialized knowledge of the energy markets.
Volatility: The crack spread can be highly volatile, leading to significant risks if not managed properly.
Best Practices for Crack Spread Trading
Stay Informed About the Energy Markets: Traders need to be aware of factors that can affect the supply and demand for crude oil and refined products, such as geopolitical events, weather patterns, and refinery capacity.
Use Risk Management Tools: Given the volatility of the crack spread, it’s essential to use risk management tools like stop-loss orders to protect against adverse price movements.
7. Statistical Arbitrage in Futures Trading
Definition and Overview
Statistical arbitrage (stat arb) is a trading strategy that uses mathematical models to identify and exploit price inefficiencies in the market. In futures trading, statistical arbitrage involves trading pairs or groups of futures contracts that have historically shown a statistical relationship, with the expectation that any deviations from this relationship will eventually revert to the mean.
How Statistical Arbitrage Works
Stat arb traders use historical price data and statistical models to identify pairs of futures contracts that are expected to move together. When the price of one contract deviates from its expected relationship with the other, the trader takes a long position in the undervalued contract and a short position in the overvalued contract. The positions are then held until the prices converge, at which point the trader closes the positions for a profit.
Advantages of Statistical Arbitrage
Market Neutrality: Because statistical arbitrage involves taking both long and short positions, it is generally market-neutral, meaning it is less affected by overall market direction.
Diversification: Statistical arbitrage strategies can be applied across multiple asset classes, providing opportunities for diversification.
Disadvantages of Statistical Arbitrage
Requires Advanced Analytical Skills: Implementing a statistical arbitrage strategy requires a deep understanding of statistical methods and access to large datasets.
Execution Risk: The success of statistical arbitrage depends on the accurate execution of trades, and small delays or errors can lead to losses.
Best Practices for Statistical Arbitrage
Use Robust Statistical Models: The key to successful stat arb trading is the accuracy of the statistical models used to identify trading opportunities.
Continuously Monitor Positions: Market conditions can change rapidly, so it’s important to continuously monitor positions and adjust the strategy as needed.
8. What Low Margin Rates on Futures Means for Your Trading
Definition and Overview
Margin is the amount of money required to open and maintain a futures position. It acts as a good faith deposit to ensure that the trader can cover potential losses. Low margin rates mean that traders need to put up less capital to control a larger position in the futures market.
Impact of Low Margin Rates on Futures Trading
Low margin rates can have a significant impact on futures trading by increasing leverage. With lower margins, traders can control larger positions with a smaller initial investment, which can amplify both potential profits and potential losses.
Advantages of Low Margin Rates
Increased Leverage: Lower margin requirements allow traders to leverage their capital more effectively, potentially leading to higher returns on investment.
Greater Market Access: Lower margins make futures trading accessible to a wider range of traders, including those with smaller account balances.
Disadvantages of Low Margin Rates
Higher Risk: While low margin rates increase potential profits, they also increase the risk of substantial losses. Traders need to be careful not to over-leverage their positions.
Margin Calls: If the market moves against a highly leveraged position, traders may face margin calls, requiring them to deposit additional funds or liquidate positions at a loss.
Best Practices for Trading with Low Margin Rates
Manage Leverage Carefully: Traders should be cautious about over-leveraging their positions and should always have a clear risk management plan in place.
Use Stop-Loss Orders: To protect against large losses, traders should use stop-loss orders to automatically close positions if the market moves against them.
Futures trading offers a wide array of strategies and approaches, each with its own set of advantages and challenges. Whether you are engaging in swing trading, momentum trading, calendar spread trading, or any of the other strategies discussed, it is crucial to have a deep understanding of the market dynamics and to implement effective risk management practices. Additionally, the impact of low margin rates cannot be overstated, as they can significantly influence the risk and return profile of your trading activities.
By mastering these strategies and understanding the underlying concepts, futures traders can better navigate the complexities of the market and increase their chances of success. Each strategy requires a unique set of skills and knowledge, and the choice of strategy should align with the trader’s individual goals, risk tolerance, and market outlook.
Ready to start trading futures? Call us at 1(800)454-9572 (US) or (310)859-9572 (International), or email info@cannontrading.com to speak with one of our experienced, Series-3 licensed futures brokers and begin your futures trading journey with E-Futures.com today.
Disclaimer: Trading Futures, Options on Futures, and retail off-exchange foreign currency transactions involve substantial risk of loss and are not suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Carefully consider if trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances, knowledge, and financial resources. You may lose all or more of your initial investment. Opinions, market data, and recommendations are subject to change at any time.
Important: Trading commodity futures and options involves a substantial risk of loss. The recommendations contained in this article are opinions only and do not guarantee any profits. This article is for educational purposes. Past performances are not necessarily indicative of future results.
This article has been generated with the help of AI Technology and modified for accuracy and compliance.
Volume is reported for all futures contracts. It is calculated by counting the number of contracts that have been bought and sold over a given time. You can track volume using different time intervals like daily or intraday.
When a futures contract is traded, whether bought or sold, it counts towards volume for that contract.
For example, a trader closes a short position in the E-mini S&P 500 (ES) futures contract by buying one contract in the ES, so volume will increase by 1.
Traders often use and interpret the rise or decline of volume in a futures contract to help make trading decisions.
Volume can give important information to traders such as:
Indicate the price levels at which traders are more or less interested in trading a futures contract
During the roll, indicate to traders when to switch to trading the front month futures contract as volume decreases in the expiring contract
Identify the times of day when a futures contract is most liquid
Price Levels
When volume changes as price of a futures contract moves towards certain levels, this can indicate to a trader that a change in direction may occur. Some traders may use this information to indicate whether to buy or sell at those key levels.
Contract Roll
During the futures rollover, traders pay attention to the contract that is taking the higher levels of volume. Traders use this information to determine when to start trading the next month contract. As volume decreases in the expiring contract, trading will shift to the next available month contract.
For example, say the June ES (E-mini S&P 500) futures contract is about to expire and September will become the new front month. On the Thursday of rollover week, watch how the June contract starts to lose volume and the September contract begins to pick up volume. When the September contract has more volume than the June contract, it is time to switch to the September contract.
Active Periods
Traders typically prefer higher volume times to trade, as it means that more traders are actively interested in buying and selling. When volume is high, the bid-ask spread is typically smaller, orders are filled faster and less gaps may exist between ticks.
For example, markets can have lower volume between the hours of 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. ET, before major economic releases; conversely, market often see higher volume around the open and close of the trading day.
Traders also can look at average daily volume over a longer time period, such as a few weeks or months, to see if the markets currently are in a lower or higher volume than is typical.
Summary
What volume can’t show however, is whether traders are buying or selling, or opening or closing a position.
For example, if the ES contract is trading at 2375 and suddenly pushes down to 2360 while volume increases, the volume that comes into the market could be from traders opening new long positions at key levels of support. That could indicate a bullish sentiment. Volume also can be generated by liquidation of exiting long positions or opening of new short positions, a possible bearish indication.
A spike in volume at 2360 doesn’t necessarily mean that buyers are coming into the market and that the price will bounce.
Volume data is readily available for each futures contract and for the market as a whole. Although traders may use volume in different ways to interpret how to trade, volume can be an important factor to help inform your trading decisions.
Hot Market of the Week – June Bonds
Hot market of the week is provided by QT Market Center, A Swiss army knife charting package that’s not just for Hedgers, Cooperatives and Farmers alike but also for Spread traders, Swing traders and shorter time frame application for intraday traders with a unique proprietary indicator that can be applied to your specific trading needs.
The June 30 Year T-Bond break found temporary stability at its second downside PriceCount objective recently. Now, the chart has resumed its slide into new lows which, if sustained, would project a run to the third count in the 109^20 area.
PriceCounts – Not about where we’ve been , but where we might be going next!
The PriceCount study is a tool that can help to project the distance of a move in price. The counts are not intended to be an ‘exact’ science but rather offer a target area for the four objectives which are based off the first leg of a move with each subsequent count having a smaller percentage of being achieved. It is normal for the chart to react by correcting or consolidating at an objective and then either resuming its move or reversing trend. Best utilized in conjunction with other technical tools, PriceCounts offer one more way to analyze charts and help to manage your positions and risk. Learn more at www.qtchartoftheday.com
Trading in futures, options, securities, derivatives or OTC products entails significant risks which must be understood prior to trading and may not be appropriate for all investors. Past performance of actual trades or strategies is not necessarily indicative of future results.
Broker’s Trading System of the Week
With algorithmic trading systems becoming more prevalent in portfolio diversification, the following system has been selected as the broker’s choice for this month.
The performance shown above is hypothetical in that the chart represents returns in a model account. The model account rises or falls by the average single contract profit and loss achieved by clients trading actual money pursuant to the listed system’s trading signals on the appropriate dates (client fills), or if no actual client profit or loss available – by the hypothetical single contract profit and loss of trades generated by the system’s trading signals on that day in real time (real‐time) less slippage, or if no real time profit or loss available – by the hypothetical single contract profit and loss of trades generated by running the system logic backwards on back adjusted data. Please read full disclaimer HERE.
Would you like to receive daily support & resistance levels?
* This is not a solicitation of any order to buy or sell, but a current market view provided by Cannon Trading Inc. Any statement of facts here in contained are derived from sources believed to be reliable, but are not guaranteed as to accuracy, nor they purport to be complete. No responsibility is assumed with respect to any such statement or with respect to any expression of opinion herein contained. Readers are urged to exercise their own judgement in trading.
The U.S. GDP experienced a modest increase of 1.6% in the first quarter, marking the slowest expansion in two years. This news prompted a downturn in U.S. stock markets. But should investors be concerned about this figure?
Ben Laidler, the Global Markets Strategist at eToro, appeared on Wealth! to shed light on the implications of the GDP data for investor portfolios.
Laidler commented, “The recent GDP figure isn’t ideal, yet it’s not as dire as it may seem. The core elements that matter to us—business investment and consumer spending—are holding strong. The observed softness is largely attributed to less critical factors, which are expected to rebound in the next quarter, specifically trade and inventory levels.
While the inflation metric is slightly unsettling, it’s best to wait for the upcoming release of the monthly Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index. This will provide us with more clarity on the extent of our concerns regarding the current economic situation.”
* This is not a solicitation of any order to buy or sell, but a current market view provided by Cannon Trading Inc. Any statement of facts here in contained are derived from sources believed to be reliable, but are not guaranteed as to accuracy, nor they purport to be complete. No responsibility is assumed with respect to any such statement or with respect to any expression of opinion herein contained. Readers are urged to exercise their own judgement in trading.
RISK DISCLOSURE: Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. The risk of loss in futures trading can be substantial, carefully consider the inherent risks of such an investment in light of your financial condition.
Economic Reports
provided by: ForexFactory.com
All times are Eastern Time ( New York)
US new home sales data for June will be updated Wednesday morning at 9:00 am CT. Analysts expect new home sales month-to-month at a 0.640 mln unit annualized pace, up +3.4%. The prior month’s sales were -11.3% at 0.619 mln unit annual rate. Micron Technology reports after the close 
