As a high risk trading type, futures trading is not for someone who is faint-hearted. Though there are a number of different ways of investing in futures , it is important to stick to what you know. Treading into unknown waters is not something that you should do when dealing in futures.
From managing margins to ordering trades to doing market analysis and more if you want to, you can do that all by yourself – but you may betaking double the risk. Therefore, when trading in futures, it may be better to seek advice from a professional trader.
Professional trading experts at Cannon Trading can help you with your futures trading. We are also there to keep you updated with the latest on futures trading and market news. All the news and latest articles on futures trading are published on our site under the category Archive Futures Trading News, which you are currently browsing through. Read more and the latest here and keep updated.
Trading 202: Day Trading Commodities with Crude Oil Futures
Crude Oil Futures Volatility Offers A “Different Market Personality” Than Stock Index Futures. Here Is Some Of The Things You Need To Know About Day Trading Crude Oil Futures:
By: Ilan Levy-Mayer, Cannon Trading Commodities Broker & VP
Crude Oil is one of MY favorite futures market for day trading. Before I dive in and share with you how the volatility in crude oil fits my risk tolerance for day trading and provide a couple of chart examples, we should review some of the specifications of Crude Oil Futures.
Crude Oil Futures have monthly expiration. So each month we trade a different contract month, so one needs to know when is the first notice day and last trading day for crude oil futures in order to always make sure we are trading the proper month with the most liquidity and avoid any chance of getting into delivery situation.
Next is the contract size. Crude Oil futures are based on 1000 barrels. To be honest from a day trading perspective all I care is that each tick or 1 cent fluctuation is $10 against me or in my favor per contract. That means that a move from 92.94 to 92.74 = $200.
Another factor is trading hours. At the time I am sharing my thoughts with you, April 8th 2013, crude oil futures trade on the CME Globex platform and trade from 5 PM CDT until the next day at 4 PM CDT. That is 23 of straight trading hours. I definitely don’t recommend day trading this market 23 hours…but it is good to know the trading hours.
Volume in crude oil futures is pretty good to trade in my opinion. Averaging about 300,000 contracts per day.
One last pointer to touch on is the API (American Petroleum Institute) report that normally comes out Wednesday at 9:30 CDT (on short weeks, holidays etc. , this report will be pushed to Thursday at 10 AM CDT). I tell my clients that this report is way too volatile and I like to be out 5 minutes before and not resume trading 5 minutes until after the report comes out. This report by itself deserves a writing but on short, the report provides information on how our stock pile is doing ( = supply/demand) and the market will move based on the numbers versus what was expected. Again as a day trader, your main job is to know about this report, when it comes out and in my opinion stay out of the market during this time..
March soybeans fell sharply today, losing ±$0.60 cents (-4.4%) down to $13.09 ¾ / bushel erasing all of its gains for the month of January. March corn declined as well, by $0.24 / bushel (-4.6%) to close at $5.00 ¼ / bushel. More welcome rain was forecast for Argentina today boosting forecasts of the last two days. That opened the door for improving crop conditions into early February. Forecasts for even more rain next week in Argentina and Brazil contributed to the sell-off’s momentum. Brazil’s 1-2-week forecast called for widespread rains over most growing regions. All this points to better-than-expected crop conditions across those two important growing areas into early February.
Would you like to try out the “turning points Algo” you see on the chart in the form of blue circle and red circles?
Good 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 when it comes to Futures Trading.
Futures Trading Levels
1-25-2021
Weekly Levels
Reports, First Notice (FN), Last trading (LT) Days for the Week:
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 herein 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 judgment in tradin
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 when it comes to Futures Trading.
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.
It is very interesting to observe the different type of trading days the market presents us with.
Some are very choppy, some are extremely volatile both ways and some can be “dead” at times. Every now and again we get a big strong move. Up or down that behaves like a “text book example”. Much easier to observe AFTER the fact and this is exactly what the hourly chart of the mini SP 500 shows you.
A buy signal, followed by “price confirmation”, market holding on to the support level at 1289.50 and rallying hard on inauguration day.
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 when it comes to Futures Trading.
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.
Markets have had a “weird rhythm” these past few days. Between MLK holiday we had yesterday and Inauguration tomorrow, it seems like there is a wait for something….not sure if it make sense or not but one can feel it by observing the tape.
During times of uncertainty, RISK management, patience and discipline become even more important.
Live Cattle Weekly Chart for Longer term Perspective. We had a possible upside breakout on the daily today.
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 when it comes to Futures Trading.
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 markets are constantly moving and changing. There are many factors that impact any specific market instrument at any given time. One area that includes good opportunities for traders to engage is the concept of Leading and Following Markets.
The fundamental trading concept that this technology is based on is called Leading and Following markets. This fundamental concept is used by professional traders who trade the Following Market after they see specific moves in the Leading market.
You don’t want to predict (gamble) what the direction of any specific market will be, that’s why it is much better to identify one market that follows a different one and then trade it when you see the Leading market has already moved.
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 when it comes to Futures Trading.
Futures Trading Levels
1-18-2021
Weekly Levels
Reports, First Notice (FN), Last trading (LT) Days for the Week:
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 herein 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 judgment in trading
The above sources were compiled from sources believed to be reliable. Cannon Trading assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. It is meant as an alert to events that may affect trading strategies and is not necessarily complete. The closing times for certain contracts may have been rescheduled.
Today I am sharing an example of using volume chart along with FIB levels when following intraday market action.
Market is NQ
Chart type is CVB = constant volume bar
5000 contracts traded complete one bar.
This model uses a theory that when it comes to short term day trading, volume is much more important than time, hence the use of volume bars. I use bars of between 1,000 to 18,000 contracts traded (pending the specific market, based on recent volatility, trade volume and a few other factors). That means that instead of bars completing based on time frame (i.e. 1 minute or 15 minutes etc.), we use volume instead of time. So each time X,000 contracts traded, a new bar will complete. When the specific market has high volume and is moving fast, the bars will complete faster. When market is in low volume without much action, the bars will complete slower.
For me personally, this has helped getting signals ahead of time when there is fast action in the market and avoiding false signals when volume is low.
Needless to say volume charts on their own are no crystal ball and there is much more to trading but may help you take a look at your charts from a a diff. angle.
NQ Emini – Nasdaq Volume Base Chart, 5000 contracts 1.13.2021
To access a free trial to the ALGOS shown in the chart along with other tools, visit and sign up for a free trial for 21 days with real-time data.
Good 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 when it comes to Futures Trading.
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.
No words of wisdom today…..or a chart for review….
Just trading levels and reports below.
If you are still “hungry for some trading tidbits” – then click here.
Good 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 when it comes to Futures Trading.
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.
Big Moves in the metals sector the last few days, including the “favorite child” – Dr. Copper….
Previous sell signals in the shape of red diamonds only generated very small downward moves if any, compare to the same exact signal to the buy side = mechanics of a bull trend. The big question today is will we see more follow through on this sell signa?
Big Moves in the metals sector the last few days, including the “favorite child” – Dr. Copper….
Good 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 when it comes to Futures Trading.
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.
Monthly NFP ( non farm payroll ) tomorrow before the market opens, normally a market moving report.
Bitcoin Index from the CME chart for your review simply because it screams out, “What’s next,” now that the total value of the entire cryptocurrency market has eclipsed $1trillion. Some have harkened back to Tulip mania in 1637, considered the first recorded speculative bubble. Of all things, prices for tulip bulbs were what skyrocketed then dramatically collapsed. Others have contended Bitcoin’s rise has just begun, holding out values of $100-, $150- then $200,000. They may both be right; they may both be wrong.
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 when it comes to Futures Trading.
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.
