Copper Prices Surge $6,500 per Contract After Trump’s 25% Tariff Bombshell!

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Markets Highlights on Copper

Copper

by Mark O’Brien, Senior Broker

General:

The big one! It’s that time of the month again: we’re a couple of days from when the Labor Dept. releases its monthly Non-farm payrolls report. It’s widely considered to be one of the most important and influential measures of the U.S. economy and the report is released at 7:30 A.M., Central Time on the first Friday of the month.

Ahead of that, today the ADP National Employment Report showed payrolls increased by 77,000 jobs in February, the smallest gain since July 2024, after rising 186,000 in January. Economists had forecast private employment advancing 140,000.

The ADP report, jointly developed with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, likely exaggerates the labor market slowdown and has no correlation with the government’s employment report.

 Softs:

Arabica coffee futures rose sharply today with the market heading back up towards recent record highs. May ICE coffee rose almost 5% to $4.1855 per lb. intraday. Traders indicated the market showing signs of resuming its upward trend after suffering a sharp setback which took prices from a record high of $4.2995 on Feb. 11 to a low of $3.6630 a week ago – a ±$23,900 per contract correction! The market was keeping a close watch on the weather in top grower Brazil with hot, dry conditions raising some concerns about the upcoming crop.

Energy:

Crude oil futures settled down for the fourth consecutive session today after U.S. crude oil stockpiles posted a larger-than-expected build, adding a further headwind as investors worried about OPEC+ plans to increase output in April and U.S. tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico. April West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) settled down $1.95, or 2.86%, to $66.31 a barrel, its lowest since November ’24. OPEC+, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, decided on Monday to proceed with a planned April oil output increase of 138,000 barrels per day, its first since 2022.

Metals:

Copper

CME/COMEX copper futures soared today following President Donald Trump’s announced 25% tariffs on copper imports during his Tuesday night speech to Congress. May copper rose ±26 cents/lb. (±5.7% as of this blog post – a $6,500 per contract move – to a $4.825/lb. intraday high.

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April Crude Oil

April crude oil is completing its second downside PriceCount objective to the 66.53 area. It would be normal to get a near term reaction from this level in the form of a consolidation or corrective trade. At this point, IF the chart can sustain further weakness, the third count would project a possible slide to a new contract low around 62.78. A trade below the October reactionary low would formally negate the remaining unmet upside objectives.

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Daily Levels for March 6th, 2025

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Economic Reports

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All times are Eastern Time (New York)

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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.

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Micros Futures

Micros futures have revolutionized futures trading by providing traders with lower capital requirements and greater flexibility. Whether you are an experienced futures trader or a novice looking to enter the world of futures trading, understanding the intricacies of e mini micro futures can help you make informed decisions. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore 10 obscure facts about micros futures contracts, highlight past case studies, and examine the risks involved in trading futures. Additionally, we will discuss why Cannon Trading Company is a top-tier futures broker for trading futures contracts.

  1. Micros Futures and Their Etymology
    The term “micros futures” originates from the broader category of e mini futures. E mini micro futures represent an even smaller contract size compared to traditional e mini futures, designed to make futures trading more accessible to traders with smaller account sizes. The creation of micro-sized contracts was a direct response to demand from retail traders who wanted exposure to commodity brokerage markets without requiring the large capital commitments of standard futures contracts.
  1. How Micros Futures Have Democratized Futures Trading
    Historically, futures trading was dominated by institutional investors due to the high margin requirements. However, the introduction of micros futures has allowed retail traders to participate in commodity brokerage with smaller position sizes. For example, while a standard S&P 500 futures contract controlled $250 per index point, an e mini futures contract controls $50 per point, and e mini micro futures control just $5 per point. This allows traders to hedge, speculate, and manage risk with much smaller capital exposure.
  1. Unusual Strategies for Trading Micros Futures
    Most traders use common strategies such as trend following and scalping, but there are obscure yet effective strategies that some futures traders employ:

    • Calendar Spread Trading: A technique where traders go long on one micros futures contract while simultaneously shorting a different contract month to profit from price differences over time.
    • Gamma Scalping in Micros Futures: A complex options-related strategy applied to micros futures, though rarely discussed in trading forums.
    • Short Squeeze Trapping: A strategy where traders buy micros futures ahead of a suspected short squeeze, capitalizing on rapid price movements.
  1. The Forgotten Role of Open Interest in Micros Futures
    Many traders focus solely on volume but ignore open interest, which can be a hidden indicator of price movements. Open interest measures the total number of outstanding contracts that have not been settled. If open interest rises alongside price increases in e mini micro futures, it indicates strong bullish sentiment. Conversely, if prices rise but open interest declines, it might signal a potential reversal.
  1. Micros Futures Have Lower Tick Value, But Can Still Be Risky
    While the lower tick value of micros futures makes them appealing, risk is still a significant factor. Consider the micro Nasdaq-100 futures (MNQ), which move in increments of 0.25 index points, with each tick worth $0.50. However, with enough contracts, a trader can still experience substantial gains or losses. One real-life case study involves a retail trader who attempted to hedge a portfolio using micro S&P 500 futures (MES) but miscalculated leverage, leading to an unexpected $10,000 loss in a matter of hours.
  1. Liquidity Concerns with Micros Futures
    Although micros futures have gained traction, they still have lower liquidity compared to standard e mini futures. This can lead to wider bid-ask spreads, which can impact trade execution. Some traders overlook slippage risks in micros futures, only to find that in fast-moving markets, execution prices differ significantly from their intended entry points.
  1. The Impact of Algorithmic Trading on Micros Futures
    High-frequency trading (HFT) algorithms actively participate in the micros futures market, often creating rapid price fluctuations. Some traders use the “iceberg order” technique to hide their true order size and avoid being exploited by algorithms that hunt for liquidity. This trading technique is especially useful when dealing with micros futures contracts, where market depth can vary.
  1. Unique Risk Factors Associated with Micros Futures
    While micros futures offer smaller contract sizes, traders must still account for the following risk factors:

    • Margin Call Risks: Due to the leverage involved in trading futures, even micros futures can result in margin calls if not managed correctly.
    • Gaps in Overnight Trading: Unlike equities, micros futures trade nearly 24 hours a day, which means significant price gaps can occur outside of regular trading hours.
    • Psychological Biases: Some traders falsely assume that because micros futures are smaller, they carry minimal risk. However, an overleveraged micros futures position can be just as devastating as a poorly managed standard futures trade.
  1. Case Study: Micros Futures and the 2020 Market Crash
    During the market crash of 2020, many retail traders turned to micros futures to hedge their portfolios. A notable example involves a futures trader who strategically shorted micro crude oil futures (MCL) ahead of the historic drop into negative territory. This trader correctly anticipated the lack of storage capacity for oil and managed to turn a $5,000 account into $50,000 in just weeks.
  1. Why Cannon Trading Company Is an Ideal Futures Broker
  2. Choosing the right futures broker is critical for success in trading futures. Cannon Trading Company stands out as a premier choice for several reasons:

    • Wide Selection of Trading Platforms: Cannon Trading offers access to top-tier trading platforms like NinjaTrader, TradeStation, and MultiCharts, ensuring that futures traders can execute trades seamlessly.
    • 5-Star Ratings on TrustPilot: With stellar customer reviews, Cannon Trading has built a reputation for excellent customer service and reliability.
    • Decades of Experience: With over three decades of experience in the futures trading industry, Cannon Trading provides expert insights to traders of all levels.
    • Regulatory Excellence: The firm maintains exemplary compliance with the National Futures Association (NFA) and other regulatory bodies, ensuring a safe trading environment.
    • Dedicated Customer Support: Unlike many online brokers, Cannon Trading offers personalized customer service, making it an excellent choice for both novice and experienced futures traders.

Micros futures have transformed the landscape of futures trading, making it more accessible while still offering significant opportunities and risks. Understanding the nuances of e mini micro futures, applying advanced trading techniques, and working with a reputable futures broker like Cannon Trading Company can significantly enhance a trader’s experience and profitability. As more traders turn to micros futures to gain exposure to the markets, staying informed about these lesser-known aspects of futures trading will be key to long-term success.

For more information, click here.

Ready to start trading futures? Call us at 1(800)454-9572 – Int’l (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 Cannon Trading Company 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.

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Micro E-Mini & Micro Grains: Expanding Futures Trading Flexibility

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Cannon Futures Weekly Letter

In Today’s Issue #1232

Micro Grains in the Spotlight!

micro grains

  • MICRO Grains are available!

  • The Week Ahead – Non Farm Payrolls, Powell Speaking & More Volatility
  • Futures 102 – Understanding MICRO e-minis
  • Hot Market of the Week – May Cotton
  • Broker’s Trading System of the Week – ES intraday System
  • Trading Levels for Next Week
  • Trading Reports for Next Week

Micro Grains are available:

Micro Grains: This permanent demo is available to all clients using the StoneX futures ( CQG desktop) platform as long as you have a balance.

CME Group, the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, announced in late January that it will launch a suite of micro grain and oilseed futures contracts. These contracts will be cash-settled and be one-tenth the size of the exchange’s Corn, Wheat, Soybean, Soybean Oil and Soybean Meal futures contracts.

Their first day of trading was this last Monday, Feb. 24.

Quoting John Ricci, Managing Director and Global Head of Agriculture from CME Group’s press release: “Our benchmark grain and oilseed futures products are the most liquid and highly-utilized markets in global agriculture today. These smaller-sized contracts will provide additional flexibility for market participants to manage their agricultural portfolios with greater precision.”

Micro Corn, Wheat, Soybean, Soybean Oil and Soybean Meal futures will be listed by and subject to the rules of CBOT. For more information and additional contract specs, please visit www.cmegroup.com/microags.

Important Notices: The Week Ahead

By John Thorpe, Senior Broker

Final Week of Standard time in the U.S. “Spring Forward!”

More volatility to come as next week all markets will be reacting to the potential for tariff implementations creating uncertainty in the marketplace. Therefore, increased volatility expectations.

Highlights next week will also include Nonfarm Payrolls on Friday prior to cash market open. 9 fed speakers including Fed Chair J. Powell on Friday morning as earnings reports begin dwindling with 378 total reports while we are in the 8th inning of earnings season, the reports will be impacting the indices much less than in past weeks.

Earnings Next Week:

  • Mon. quiet
  • Tue. Crowdstrike post close
  • Wed. quiet
  • Thu.  Costco and Broadcom post close
  • Fri. quiet

FED SPEECHES:

  • Mon. Musalem 10:35 am CST
  • Tues. Williams 1:20 pm CST
  • Wed. quiet
  • Thu. Waller 2:30 pm CST, Bostic 5:00 pm CST
  • Fri. Bowman 9:15 am, Williams 9:45 am, Kugler 11:20 pm, Fed Chair J. Powell 11:30 am, Kugler 12:00 pm all times CST.

Economic Data week:

  • Mon. S&P Global Mfg. PMI, ISM Mfg. PMI,
  • Tue. RedBook,
  • Wed. ADP, S&P Global Svcs. PMI, Factory orders, ISM Svcs. PMI, EIA Crude Inventories, Biege Book
  • Thur. Balance of Trade, Initial Jobless Claims, EIA Nat Gas
  • Fri Non-Farm Payrolls

Futures 102: MICRO E-Mini Futures

Course Overview

The next big thing in equities trading

This course will provide insight into the Micro E-mini futures, including a size comparison to classic E-mini contracts, a look at enhanced exposure and the benefits Micro E-mini futures can offer you.

More precisely hedge index exposure and manage your positions with more versatility, since Micro E-mini futures are fungible with classic E-mini contracts. Even get examples of how to hedge more precisely with Micro E-mini futures.

Start Now

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Hot Market of the Week

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.

Free Trial Available

May Cotton

May cotton has resumed its break with a new contract low. This has the chart taking aim at its third downside PriceCount objective to the 64.60 area.

PriceCounts – Not about where we’ve been, but where we might be going next!

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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.

Brokers 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.

ES NZL

The NZL automated trading system utilizes two main ALGOS in an attempt to identify either an early trend in the trading day and/or high percentage counter trend set ups.

The system is fully automated and runs between the hours of 4 AM central and 3:15 PM Central.

The model relies on volume charts rather than time charts.

PRODUCT

Mini SP500

SYSTEM TYPE

Day Trading

Recommended Cannon Trading Starting Capital

$36,000

COST

USD 199 / monthly

Get Started

 

Learn More

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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.

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Trading Levels for Next Week

Daily Levels for March 3rd, 2025

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Trading Reports for Next Week

First Notice (FN), Last trading (LT) Days for the Week:

www.mrci.com

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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.

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Market Prep: Last Trading Day of February, March Bitcoin, PCE Report & Key Trading Checklist

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Different Markets for Day Trading, March Bitcoin

bitcoin

March Bitcoin:

Tomorrow is the last trading day for February. Last and first trading days of the months can at times be more volatile and at times have a chance to become a trending day.

Also tomorrow is PCE ( Personal Consumption Expenditures, an inflation indicator watched closely by the market).

Last but not least if you are trading bonds and ten years, time to trade the June contract.

Day Trading

Trader’s Check List:

·        Review prior day statement

·        Check for any working orders on your platforms.

·        Be aware of contract rollover dates

·        Set a daily loss limit and learn NOT to overtrade

·        Understand what reports are coming out today

·        Make sure you are not distracted

·        Calculate appropriate trading size based on current volatility and account size

·        Start with Larger Time Frame charts to get proper perspective

·        Understand what your goal is

·        Measure your success or lack of

·        Spend time furthering your trading education and exploring different methods

·        Put trading in perspective and make sure the overall psychology of trading fits you.

 

 

 

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March Bitcoin

The rally in March bitcoin ran out of momentum, leaving behind an interim top in December. Now, on the correction lower, the chart has activated downside PriceCount objectives. The first count has been completed. IF you can sustain further weakness, the second count would project a possible slide to the 76,000 area..

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Daily Levels for February 28th, 2025

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Economic Reports

provided by: ForexFactory.com

All times are Eastern Time (New York)

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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.

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Gold Drops to $40, Silver Freefalls as Looming Recession Fears Weigh Heavy on Markets

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Movers & Shakers: Gold, Silver, Recession Fears

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by John Thorpe, Senior Broker

Movers and Shakers: QUIET Econ data and fed speak tomorrow

Market volatility is here to stay for the foreseeable future

Choose your opportunities wisely.

The S&P experienced an 85 point slide ($4250.00 per contract) 65 points immediately following the negative consumer confidence number release that declined by 7 points. The market has continued to recover from the initial loses and look to close in the _0 to 20 point range near 5990.00 basis the March contract. The NQ also took a drubbing, down 225 points as of this writing after being down over 400 points earlier in the session while the DOW looks to add 150 + points today.

Gold, Silver, Recession Fears

Gold, Silver: Recessionary concerns as a result of the building lack of confidence also impacted the Gold and Silver markets , with gold taking a $40.00 per ounce whack and Silver taking a .68 drubbing per troy ounce basis the May contract.

Not to be left out, the US 30 yr Bond, ( ZBM25) was up ( lower interest rates) 42 32nds basis the June contract.

Crude oil will be closing under $70.00 bbl for the first time since the day after Christmas at what looks to be 69.10 basis the April contract.

Updated: February 25, 2025 7:28 am

Dallas Fed President put forth the idea of using a modest portion of the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet to holding daily auctions of discount window loans, arguing that it will improve efficiency and effectiveness in implementing policy, and encourage banks needing liquidity to borrow at the Fed. The US Fed discount window lend to banks in need of cash, exchanging for less liquid collateral held by banks.

Updated: February 25, 2025 7:55 am

Redbook Weekly US Retail Sales Headline Recap

**Redbook Weekly US Retail Sales were +5.9% in the first three weeks of February 2025 vs February 2024

**Redbook Weekly US Retail Sales were +6.2% in the week ending February 22 vs yr ago week

Updated: February 25, 2025 8:01 am

Case Schiller 20 US Metro-Area Home Prices Recap

**Case Schiller 20 US metro area home prices for December Y/Y: +4.4% from the year ago month

**Case Schiller 20 US metro area home prices for December M/M: -0.1% vs prior month

Updated: February 25, 2025 9:02 am

Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index Headline Recap

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 **Richmond Fed February Manufacturing Index: +6.0 ; prior -4.0; expected -2.0

**Richmond Fed February Manufacturing Shipments Index:+12.0 ; prior -9.0

**Richmond Fed February Manufacturing New Orders: 0.0 ; prior -4.0

**Richmond Fed February Manufacturing Employees: +9.0 ; prior +3.0

**Richmond Fed February Manufacturing Prices Paid: +2.23 ; prior +2.37

**Richmond Fed February Manufacturing Prices Received: +1.62 ; prior +1.21

**Richmond Fed February Service Sector Index: +11.0 ; prior +4.0

Updated: February 25, 2025 9:06 am

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® declined by 7.0 points in February to 98.3 (1985=100).

Tomorrow:

  • Rich. Fed, Bldg Permits, New Home sales.,
  • NVIDIA Earnings after the close!
  • Fed Barkin 7:30 am CST, Fed Bostic 11:00 am CST .
  • Crude Oil Inventories
  • G20 all day

Daily Levels for February 26th, 2025

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Want to feature our updated trading levels on your website? Simply paste a small code, and they’ll update automatically every day! Click here for quick and easy instructions.

Economic Reports

provided by: ForexFactory.com

All times are Eastern Time ( New York)

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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.

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Treasury Bonds & Notes make Bold Moves!

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Treasury Bonds Notes
Treasury Bonds

 

Treasury Bonds, Notes

Treasury Bonds & Notes – Different market, different trading environments

Each market has different personality, different behavior along with different times of the day when it is most active. If you are finding that the ES (mini SP) is not giving you enough risk/opportunities, then start monitoring a couple of other markets and perhaps explore them in demo / simulated mode.

There are more than a few markets I think are suitable for day-trading. Below you will find some observations, tips along with what is unique about these markets, personality and most active trading hours.

Interest rates, mostly the ten year and 30-year.

In most platforms, the symbols are ZB for 30-year bonds and ZN for 10-year notes.

Product Symbol

ZB

Treasury Bonds

Contract Size

The unit of trading shall be U.S. Treasury Bonds having a face value at maturity of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or multiples thereof

Price Quotation

Points ($1,000) and 1/32 of a point. For example, 134-16 represents 134 16/32. Par is on the basis of 100 points.

Product Symbol

ZN

Underlying Unit

One U.S. Treasury note having a face value at maturity of $100,000 < Treasury Bond.

Price Quote

Points ($1,000) and halves of 1/32 of a point. For example, 126-16 represents 126 16/32 and 126-165 represents 126 16.5/32. Par is on the basis of 100 points.

Tick Size

(minimum fluctuation)

One-half of one thirty-second (1/32) of one point ($15.625, rounded up to the nearest cent per contract), except for intermonth spreads, where the minimum price fluctuation shall be one-quarter of one thirty-second of one point ($7.8125 per contract).

Contract Months

The first five consecutive contracts in the March, June, September, and December quarterly cycle.

These contracts are often affected by many of the economic reports that come out at 8:30 Am Eastern and there is very active volume between the hours of 8 am EST and 3 PM EST

Volume on both contracts is very good. Ten years will often have 1 million contracts traded per day (might be the second most active US futures market after the mini SP 500) and the bonds will avg. around 1,300,000 contracts.

These markets can experience very volatile movements during and right after different reports but then will often trade smooth or in an intraday trend the rest of the day.

Another advantage for these markets is that the exchange fees per trade are LOWER than the ones on the stock index futures.

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May Sugar Chart for your review below!

May sugar is completing its second upside PriceCount objective to the 19.96 area. It would be normal to get a near term reaction from this level in the form of a consolidation or corrective trade. At this point, if the chart can sustain further strength, the third count would project a possible run to the 21.57 area which is consistent with a challenge of the fall highs.

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Daily Levels for February 25th, 2025

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Economic Reports

provided by: ForexFactory.com

All times are Eastern Time (New York)

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Find us on Trustpilot

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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.

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Market Outlook: May Wheat Satisfies, Key Earnings, Fed Speeches, and Economic Data for the Final Trading Week of the Month

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Cannon Futures Weekly Letter

May MN Wheat

wheat

In Today’s Issue #1231

  • May Minnesota Wheat – Hot Market of the Week
  • Permanent Demo Available
  • The Week Ahead – NVIDIA, PCE, Housing Numbers, Fed Speeches and More!
  • Futures 102 – Understanding mini NASDAQ 100
  • Broker’s Trading System of the Week – ES intraday System
  • Trading Levels for Next Week
  • Trading Reports for Next Week

Trading Demo Available with your StoneX Futures Platform:

This permanent demo is available to all clients using the StoneX futures ( CQG desktop) platform as long as you have a balance.

If you live account is subscribed to live data, your demo will also have live data.

Demo data will run off the market data subscriptions you have.

See example below:

Login to your live trading account: https://m.cqg.com/stonexfutures

In the upper right corner, you should be able to click on your account number and select the demo account, which will be highlighted in yellow.

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Important Notices: The Week Ahead

By John Thorpe, Senior Broker

The final trading day of the month Next Friday with a full week packed with housing and other economic data, Fed Speak and a hot earning report or two.

Earnings Next Week:

  • Mon. Quiet
  • Tue. Home Depot before the open, Intuit post close
  • Wed. NVIDIA , Sales Force post close
  • Thu.  quiet
  • Fri. quiet

FED SPEECHES:

  • Mon Quiet
  • Tues. Barr 10:45 am CST, Barkin 12:00pm CST
  • Wed. Barkin 7:30 am CST, Bostic 11 am CST
  • Thu. Barr 9 am CST, Bowman 10:45 am CST, Hammack 12:15pm CST, Harker 2:15 CST
  • Fri. Quiet

Economic Data week:

 

  • Mon. Dallas Fed Manufacturing
  • Tue. RedBook, Case Schiller, Consumer confidence, Dallas Fed,
  • Wed. Richmond Fed, Bldg Permits, New Home Sales
  • Thur. Initial Jobless Claims, Durable Goods Q2 advance,
  • Fri. Core PCE, Chicago PMI

Futures 102: Understanding the E-mini Nasdaq-100

Course Overview

Learn more about the E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures contract. You will gain an understanding of the E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures contract specifications, spreading between different equity index futures contracts, and the tools available to help investors.

Start Now

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Hot Market of the Week

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.

Free Trial Available

May MN Wheat

May MN wheat satisfied its third upside PriceCount objective where it would be normal to get a near term reaction in the form of a consolidation or corrective trade, at least. At this point, IF the chart can resume its rally into new sustained highs, we are left with the low percentage fourth count to aim for to the $7.27 area. It takes a trade above the October reactionary high to formally negate the remaining unmet downside counts. That’s May MN Wheat!

PriceCounts – Not about where we’ve been, but where we might be going next!

 

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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.

Brokers 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.

ES NZL

PRODUCT

Mini SP500

SYSTEM TYPE

Day Trading

Recommended Cannon Trading Starting Capital

$36,000

COST

USD 199 / monthly

Get Started

Learn More

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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.

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Trading Levels for Next Week

Daily Levels for February 24th, 2025

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Trading Reports for Next Week

First Notice (FN), Last trading (LT) Days for the Week:

www.mrci.com

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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.

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Natural Gas & Copper Eye Upside Amid Post-Holiday Market Turbulence; Softs & Metals Lead the Charge

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Busy Friday to Finish a Short Trading Week

By Ilan Levy-Mayer, VP

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It has been a volatile short trading week post President’s Day long weekend.

Wild swings across the board with softs and metals leading the way.

Tomorrow we have new home sales, flash PMI and University of Michigan reports which will be watched closely for the inflation outlook.

Watch both natural gas and copper as these markets are establishing a tend to the upside.

Would you like to get real

time news and markets outlook via videos updates daily?

Simply visit us on our market research section. FREE to clients and prospects!

Daily Updates & Market Research

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Daily Levels for February 21st, 2025

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Economic Reports

provided by: ForexFactory.com

All times are Eastern Time (New York)

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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.

Call Now

Join our Private Facebook group

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Listen to our podcast: Subscribe on AppleSpotify, Amazon

or wherever you listen to podcasts!

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Market Updates: S&P 500, Crude Oil, and Gold Movements

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The Day Ahead in Futures Trading

by Mark O’Brien, Senior Broker

S&P 500, Gold, Crude Oil

Gold

Bullet Points, Highlights, Announcements

Indexes:

The March E-mini S&P 500 traded within striking distance of its life-of-contract high posted back on Dec. 4th and 6th (6164.00) breaching that price intraday with a 6166.50 print and closing today at 6163.00

Energy:

Oil prices rose on Wednesday, extending gains to a third-consecutive session amid growing supply worries.

March futures for West Texas Intermediate Crude traded briefly above $73.00 per barrel, a ±75 intraday increase and trading up ± 46 cents per barrel at ±$72.31.

If you missed it, EIA Energy Stocks were NOT released today, as is usual.  Due to the Presidents’ Day holiday, the report will be release tomorrow, 30 minutes after the EIA Gas Stocks report: 7:30 A.M., Central Time (gas), 8:00 A.M. (energy).

Metals:

Gold prices wavered near unchanged at this blog’s submission after trading ±$15 above and below yesterday’s settlement and near its all-time highs near $2,950 per ounce.

Fueling safe-haven demand for the precious metal, the Trump administration plans to impose tariffs of around 25% on U.S. bound autos and auto-building components, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals as early as April 2.

April gold futures have gained about 12% so far this year, with analysts expecting higher prices in a trade war.  On Monday, Goldman Sachs raised its year-end 2025 gold price forecast to $3,100 per ounce.

Daily Levels for February 20th, 2025

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Want to feature our updated trading levels on your website? Simply paste a small code, and they’ll update automatically every day! Click here for quick and easy instructions.

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Economic Reports

provided by: ForexFactory.com

All times are Eastern Time (New York)

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Find us on Trustpilot

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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.

Call Now

Join our Private Facebook group

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Listen to our podcast: Subscribe on AppleSpotify, Amazon

or wherever you listen to podcasts!

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Corn Futures Contract

The corn futures contract remains one of the most actively traded agricultural commodities in the futures markets. As global demand for corn continues to rise due to its essential role in food production, animal feed, and ethanol production, futures traders seeking profitable opportunities often turn to corn futures as a key component of their portfolio.

10 Essential Tips for Trading Corn Futures in 2025

  1. Understand Supply and Demand Dynamics
    Corn prices are highly sensitive to global supply and demand. Factors such as droughts, floods, and geopolitical trade policies can drastically affect supply, while increased biofuel production and livestock feed demand can drive prices higher.
  2. Monitor USDA Reports
    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) publishes reports such as the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE), Crop Progress Reports, and Grain Stocks Reports. These provide valuable insights into corn production, yield forecasts, and potential price movements.
  3. Follow Seasonal Trends
    Historically, corn futures contracts tend to follow seasonal price patterns. Prices often drop during harvest (September-November) when supply increases and rise in the planting months (April-May) when weather concerns create uncertainty.
  4. Choose a Reliable Futures Broker
    Working with a reputable futures trading broker is essential for executing trades efficiently. Firms like Cannon Trading Company offer a wide selection of futures trading platforms and have a solid track record with 5-star ratings on TrustPilot, making them a great choice for traders of all levels.
  5. Hedge Against Price Volatility
    Agribusinesses and institutional investors often use corn futures contracts to hedge against price fluctuations. Understanding how to use these contracts for risk management can provide a strategic edge.
  6. Utilize Technical and Fundamental Analysis
    Successful futures traders rely on both technical indicators (such as moving averages and Fibonacci retracements) and fundamental analysis (such as crop reports and geopolitical news) to make informed decisions.
  7. Watch for Inflation and Interest Rate Trends
    Economic factors such as inflation and interest rates influence the overall commodity markets. Rising interest rates can strengthen the U.S. dollar, making corn exports more expensive and potentially lowering demand.
  8. Stay Updated on Trade Agreements
    Global trade agreements and tariffs, particularly between the U.S., China, and the European Union, significantly impact corn prices. Keeping track of new trade deals is crucial for trading futures successfully.
  9. Consider Algorithmic and Automated Trading
    Advanced trading technology has made futures contract trading more accessible through algorithmic and automated trading strategies. Platforms offered by Cannon Trading Company enable traders to execute trades with precision and speed.
  10. Diversify with Other Agricultural Futures
    While trading futures in corn can be profitable, diversifying with soybean, wheat, and other crop futures can reduce risk and enhance overall portfolio stability.

Expected Trends for Corn Futures in 2025

Climate Change and Weather Volatility

Extreme weather conditions are expected to continue affecting global corn production. Unpredictable droughts and flooding could lead to significant price swings in corn futures contracts.

Biofuel and Ethanol Demand

The global push for renewable energy sources will likely keep ethanol demand high, increasing the need for corn as a primary biofuel ingredient.

Rising Input Costs

Fertilizer and transportation costs have been climbing, impacting production expenses and potentially pushing corn prices higher in 2025.

Geopolitical Tensions and Trade Policies

The U.S.-China trade relationship remains a key factor. Tariffs or trade barriers could significantly impact corn exports and futures prices.

Key Reports to Monitor for Corn Futures Trading

  • USDA WASDE Report – Offers supply and demand projections.
  • Grain Stocks Report – Provides insights into corn inventory levels.
  • Crop Progress Report – Tracks planting and harvesting progress.
  • CFTC Commitment of Traders Report – Shows market sentiment among traders.
  • EIA Ethanol Production Report – Measures ethanol demand, affecting corn consumption.

Historical Performance of Corn Futures and Agricultural Commodities

Historically, corn futures contracts have shown cyclical patterns influenced by weather conditions, government policies, and technological advancements in agriculture. The 2012 drought, for example, caused record-high prices, while increased yields in the following years led to price stabilization. Other crop futures contracts, such as wheat and soybeans, have followed similar trends, often correlating with corn prices due to their shared agricultural and economic factors.

Why Choose Cannon Trading Company for Futures Trading?

For traders looking to engage in futures contract trading, selecting a reputable futures trading broker is essential. Cannon Trading Company stands out for several reasons:

  • Top-Performing Trading Platforms: Offering a range of advanced platforms for both beginner and experienced futures traders.
  • Decades of Experience: With a long history in the futures trading industry, Cannon Trading provides expert guidance.
  • Outstanding Customer Support: Rated 5 out of 5 stars on TrustPilot, the firm is recognized for its commitment to client satisfaction.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Fully compliant with NFA regulations, ensuring transparency and security for trading futures.

The corn futures contract presents numerous opportunities for profit in 2025. By staying informed on market trends, monitoring key reports, and partnering with a reputable futures trading broker like Cannon Trading Company, traders can navigate the complexities of futures contract trading with confidence.

For more information, click here.

Ready to start trading futures? Call us at 1(800)454-9572 – Int’l (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 Cannon Trading Company 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.

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