How Do I Get Started Trading Futures?

So you’ve come this far. You’ve evaluated different vehicles of investment, and you have decided to expand your portfolio to include commodity futures. Now what? You are going to need a few tools at your disposal: a knowledgeable commodity broker that is quick on their feet, a reliable, efficient platform that will get you the information you require and executes your trades on a timely basis, and perhaps most importantly a plan.

Let’s begin with the most important requirement: because futures are so highly, there’s no doubt it can be a very risky asset class and you should only be trading with “risk capital”, or money that you can stand to lose and won’t affect your lifestyle if you do. Once you’ve accumulated your risk capital and you’ve come to terms with the nature of trading futures, you can take matters a step further by doing research on what kind of trader you want to be.

Continue reading “How Do I Get Started Trading Futures?”

Trading Levels and Economic Reports for April 4, 2013

 

Jump to a section in this post:

1. Market Commentary
2. Support and Resistance Levels – S&P, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Russell 2000, Dollar Index
3. Support and Resistance Levels – Gold, Euro, Crude Oil, T-Bonds
4. Support and Resistance Levels – Corn, Wheat, Beans, Silver
5. Economic Reports for Thursday April 4, 2013

Hello Traders,

For 2013 I would like to wish all of you discipline and patience in your trading! 

I mentioned yesterday :So far most selling in stock index futures are met with volume buying at lower levels. I wish I had an idea of how long this would last….but I don’t. What can change the dynamics are the few employment reports we have this week. Starting with tomorrow ADP report, Thursday weekly report and non-farm payroll ( the big report) this

Friday.

It seems that this morning ADP report but actually more so ISM actually gave stock index a lower break for the first time in a while.

 

I am sharing with you daily chart of mini Russell for your review and possible support/ resistance levels.

 

mini russell daily chart

 

New Trading Hours for Grain Futures Starting April 8,2013

New Trading Hours for Grain Futures Starting April 8,2013

 

Sunday to Friday: CME Globex trading from 7:00 p.m. to 7:45 a.m. CT
Monday to Friday: Break in CME Globex trading from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. CT
Monday to Friday: Floor and CME Globex trading from 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. CT
Mini-sized Grains trades til 1:45 p.m. CT

 

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.

Trading Levels and Reports 11-21-2012

Jump to a section in this post:

1. Market Commentary
2. Support and Resistance Levels – S&P, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Russell 2000, Dollar Index
3. Support and Resistance Levels – Gold, Euro, Crude Oil, T-Bonds
4. Support and Resistance Levels – Corn, Wheat, Beans, Silver
5. Economic Reports for Thursday November 22, 2012

 

Hello Traders,

Trading Levels & Economic Reports for  Thanksgiving

 

Hello Traders,

This is the last blog until Monday Nov. 26th.

Please take note of holiday trading hours below:
CME Globex® Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule
CME Group Equity Products
 Wednesday, Nov 21
1615 CT – Regular CME Globex close for trade date Wednesday, Nov 21
1700 CT – Regular CME Globex open for trade date Friday, Nov 23
Note: Day/Session orders entered after 1700 CT on Wednesday are for trade date Friday, Nov 23 and will continue working until Friday’s close at 1215 CT
Note: USD- Ibovespa Futures will remain closed until their 0515 open on
Thursday, Nov 22
Thursday, Nov 22
1030 CT – Trading halt
* Order entry, modification and cancellation allowed
1700 CT – Equity products resume trading
Note: USD- Ibovespa Futures will remain closed until their 0515 open on
Friday, Nov 23
Friday, Nov 23
1215 CT – Early CME Globex close for trade date Friday, Nov 23
For complete schedule of all markets please visit:

CME Group Thanksgiving Schedule

ICE Exchange Thanksgiving Schedule

 

Wishing all of you a great Thanksgiving holiday with family and loved ones!

 

Trading Levels & Economic Reports for 06-05 with Renko chart for Mini S&P

Jump to a section in this post:

1. Market Commentary
2. Support and Resistance Levels – S&P, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Russell 2000, Dollar Index
3. Support and Resistance Levels – Gold, Euro, Crude Oil, T-Bonds
4. Support and Resistance Levels – Corn, Wheat, Beans, Silver
5. Economic Reports for Tuesday June 5, 2012

Hello Traders,

Heads up traders! Front month for bonds, ten years and other financials is now September.

Front month for gold is August.

June is still front month for indices and currencies.

Below is a screen shot of the Mini Sp 500 chart I shared during today’s session with clients and prospects during our live trading signals session

Renko mini S&P chart for your review below:

Renko Mini S&P 500 chart

Would you like to have access to my DIAMOND and TOPAZ ALGOs as shown above and be able to apply for any market and any time frame on your own PC ? You can now have a two weeks free trial where I enable the ALGO along with few studies for your own sierra/ ATcharts.

OR you can simply “stop by” and view my live screen.

To start your trial, please visit:
https://www.cannontrading.com/tools/intraday-futures-trading-signals Continue reading “Trading Levels & Economic Reports for 06-05 with Renko chart for Mini S&P”

Hourly Chart Mini S&P 500 for May 23, 2012

Jump to a section in this post:

1. Market Commentary
2. Support and Resistance Levels – S&P, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Russell 2000, Dollar Index
3. Support and Resistance Levels – Gold, Euro, Crude Oil, T-Bonds
4. Support and Resistance Levels – Corn, Wheat, Beans, Silver
5. Economic Reports for Tuesday May 23, 2012

Hello Traders,

Good ranges on many markets I follow intra day, which most day-traders look for.

As I said many times before , volatility and wide ranges can be a double edge sword….

Below you will see an hourly chart of the mini SP 500 along with some potential Elliott Wave targets for either pull backs or continued bounce.

Trade with patience, trade with discipline and good trading to all.

 

Hourly chart of Mini S&P 500 below for your review:

mini sp hourly Continue reading “Hourly Chart Mini S&P 500 for May 23, 2012”

Weekly Chart of the Mini NASDAQ | Support and Resistance Levels

 

Jump to a section in this post:
1. Market Commentary
2. Support and Resistance Levels – S&P, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Russell 2000
3. Support and Resistance Levels – Gold, Euro, Crude Oil, T-Bonds
4. Support and Resistance Levels – Corn, Wheat, Beans, Silver
5. Economic Reports for Thursday May 17, 2012

 

Hello Traders,

Weekly chart of the mini NASDAQ with possible levels to watch for your review below.

Patience, discipline and ability to accept losses are some of the biggest keys for any trading, especially for day-trading.

Write your rules down, post them on the computer and make a conscious effort to follow them. I know when I follow my own rules, it helps me and sometimes the biggest battle is just staying disciplined.

Continue reading “Weekly Chart of the Mini NASDAQ | Support and Resistance Levels”

The Importance of the FOMC Minutes | Support and Resistance Levels

Jump to a section in this post:
1. Market Commentary
2. Support and Resistance Levels – S&P, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Russell 2000
3. Support and Resistance Levels – Gold, Euro, Crude Oil, T-Bonds
4. Support and Resistance Levels – Corn, Wheat, Beans, Silver
5. Daily Mini S&P Chart
6. Economic Reports for Tuesday, November 22, 2011

divider black 190

1. Market Commentary

Last week ( Thursday to be exact) I shared the same chart below with the sell signal if we can break 1204.50 ( The market was trading around 1215 at that time). Well we broke below and pretty much got the first target in one trading day.

Tomorrow we will have FOMC minutes, an important report which the market tends to react to or as I call it, “Market respects it”.

If the market breaks above 1204.50 after the minutes, we may see a relief from selling, on the other hand if the market reacts bearishly to the report than 1147.50 and 1120 are next targets.

divider black 190 Continue reading “The Importance of the FOMC Minutes | Support and Resistance Levels”

High Market Volatility as Shown by S&P 500 Pit Session | Support and Resistance Levels

In this post:

1. Market Commentary
2. Support and Resistance Levels
3. Daily Mini S&P 500 Futures Chart
4. Economic Reports
5. Earnings Releases

divider black 190

1. Market Commentary

Days like today and yesterday encourage me to repeat what I wrote yesterday:

ALWAYS EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED! When volatility skyrockets like now, moves become extreme, the speed of the market really picks up and this is when one must adjust their trading size lower to accommodate for the wilder and wider moves.

Below is an hourly chart of SP500 pit session. Notice the gaps we have from overnight moves.

I think if we can break 1132, market may have a shot at closing the gap all the way up at: 1155 Continue reading “High Market Volatility as Shown by S&P 500 Pit Session | Support and Resistance Levels”