Cattle! 5 Powerful Signals That Cattle Prices Are Breaking Records – Are You Positioned Right?

9dc1e02e d5f7 4ff4 abf7 1df60775f196

Cattle! Gold! Your Summer of ‘25 burgers will be the most expensive in your lifetime!

Cattle

By John Thorpe, Senior Broker

Buckle your seatbelts, Huge Rally in equities and Commodities on the move.

Your Summer of ‘25 burgers will be the most expensive in your lifetime!

Please speak with your broker about ways that you may not be aware of to assist you with your risk management plans. They may surprise you with the creative solutions you may find more efficient than simple stop orders or the old “hand on the mouse blow yourself out” strategy.

Market volatility is here to stay for the foreseeable future

Choose your opportunities wisely.

Have you looked at the Cattle market lately? All time high prices?

I bet you have checked the recent price of your favorite cut of beef at the local Piggly Wiggly.

The Live cattle futures and Feeder cattle futures contracts are at all-time highs. The biggest supporting data, you ask? The US Cattle herd is the smallest it has been in over 65 years.

Think about that for a minute. The US Population in 1960 was a mere 179,323,000 souls. In 2025? Estimates are near the 341,662,000 mark. I doubt the 162,339 000 Americans that represent this population growth can’t all be Vegan! Low supply meets big demand until……

The overnight initial margin req. for 1 Live Cattle contract (40,000 lbs) is 3025.00 and for the Feeder cattle, 4537.00. Please call for more details.

Mini Dow’s range today? 1203 points $value? = $6015.00 from hi to lo

Mini S & P’s range today? 167.50 points $ Value? = $8375.00 from hi to lo

Mini Nasdaq’s range today? 650.25 points $value? = $13005.00 from hi to lo

How gold is your portfolio?

All time highs in the yellow metal today. 3509.9 per troy ounce currently trading @ 3366.00 +/- over $144.00 per oz. what a correction for this over bought market as it reacted to the recovery in the equities. We offer all exchange traded contract sizes, from 1 oz to 100 ounces.

Tomorrow:

Econ Data:  New Home Sales, Beige Book, EIA Energy stocks.

FED Speak: Musalem and Waller @ 8:35am CDT

Earnings: IBM, AT&T, Phillip Morris

Tariff news: Anything goes!

S
f77d8652 c7e7 4e3c b179 0e3f6eeda49d

Daily Levels for April 23rd, 2025

db0c00fe 3f5f 4603 a4ef 4185035df492

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.

822b33c5 2339 45ed bc84 e9c8f8c7358e

Economic Reports

provided by: ForexFactory.com

All times are Eastern Time (New York)

97365b02 9c3e 4a16 b556 81778f1b1870

Find us on Trustpilot

stars

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!

S
Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn
S
ef3ab1c9 8d6d 4e60 a3f1 af5d9d4ecbb3
Services
Software
Tools
Community
Contact

Future Brokers

In today’s increasingly uncertain and complex financial environment, futures brokers play a more crucial role than ever. As markets are rocked by volatility, shaped by unpredictable geopolitical shifts, and molded by regulatory fluctuations, futures trading has become a key strategy for both institutional and retail investors seeking to hedge risks and discover opportunities. Within this context, future brokers act as indispensable guides, facilitating access to markets, providing strategic insight, and ensuring compliance and precision in execution.

This research paper explores why futures brokers are more important than ever, how they help traders manage risk, and how global policies—particularly tariffs introduced by President Trump—are shaping the futures markets. It also highlights why Cannon Trading Company stands as one of the best futures brokers in the industry, backed by its legacy, reputation, and client-first approach.

The Essential Role of Futures Brokers Today

The financial world has changed dramatically in recent decades. With high-frequency trading, algorithmic systems, global interconnectedness, and mounting political instability, today’s investors face complexities that demand expertise and personalized support. Here’s why futures brokers have become indispensable:

10 Reasons Why Futures Brokers Are More Important Than Ever

  1. Expert Navigation Through Volatile Markets In highly volatile markets, futures brokers offer real-time guidance that helps traders make informed decisions. Their expertise becomes a critical factor in avoiding major financial missteps.
  2. Access to Global Exchanges The global nature of modern futures trading requires access to multiple exchanges worldwide. Futures brokers provide seamless access, allowing traders to diversify their portfolios and capitalize on international opportunities.
  3. Advanced Trading Platforms From charting tools to order execution systems, futures brokers offer state-of-the-art platforms that support all levels of futures trading. Cannon Trading Company, for instance, provides multiple FREE top-performing platforms tailored to different trading styles.
  4. Personalized Trading Strategies With tailored approaches to risk tolerance, market goals and asset allocation, futures brokers offer custom strategies that go beyond algorithmic or one-size-fits-all solutions.
  5. Regulatory Compliance and Risk Mitigation Future brokers ensure that trades align with regulatory standards. In a landscape where compliance breaches can result in severe penalties, their role is vital.
  6. Market Intelligence and Research Futures brokers often provide proprietary research and market forecasts that traders can use to develop informed strategies, especially in emerging sectors or under volatile conditions.
  7. High-Leverage Instrument Management: Futures trading involves leverage, which can magnify both profits and losses. Experienced brokers help manage margin requirements and recommend risk-management techniques.
  8. Support and Real-Time Assistance Cannon Trading Company exemplifies this with experienced brokers just a phone call away—no automated systems. This kind of access can be life-saving in a fast-moving market.
  9. Education and Mentorship From webinars to one-on-one consultations, futures brokers offer educational resources that empower traders, especially those new to the field.
  10. Portfolio Diversification Through Futures Contracts With assets spanning commodities, indices, interest rates, and currencies, futures brokers provide the gateway to broad diversification that shields investors from sector-specific downturns.

Risk Mitigation Through Futures Brokers in Volatile Markets

Futures trading is inherently riskier than traditional equity investing due to its leveraged nature. However, with volatility comes opportunity, and future brokers are uniquely positioned to help traders harness this potential while mitigating risk.

Key Ways Futures Brokers Help Manage Risk:

  • Stop-Loss and Limit Orders: Brokers can guide traders in placing strategic stop-loss and limit orders, automatically closing positions to help prevent runaway losses.
  • Risk Assessment Tools: Top futures brokers provide tools and calculators to measure exposure, potential drawdowns, and margin requirements.
  • Hedging Strategies: Agricultural producers, for instance, rely on futures brokers to lock in prices through hedging, minimizing exposure to price swings in commodities.
  • Diversification Advice: Instead of overloading a position in one market, brokers encourage diversification across sectors and asset classes.
  • Real-Time Market Monitoring: With constant updates and alerts, brokers ensure clients can respond instantly to news or economic reports that could influence the futures markets.

These services offer more than convenience.  They are a shield against market upheaval. [need to be qualified, like maybe “They are a collective set of tools to help shield against market upheaval.”  With political and financial dynamics changing by the day, a skilled futures broker can mean the difference between profit and peril.

Tariffs Under President Trump: Effects on the Futures Market

The imposition of tariffs by President Donald Trump during this administration fundamentally altered international trade dynamics. These changes had significant ripple effects across the futures markets, especially in commodities, metals, and agricultural products.

Key Impacts of Trump’s Tariffs on Futures Trading:

Agricultural Markets
China retaliated with tariffs on U.S. soybeans, pork, and corn, causing American farmers to potentially suffer and prices to plummet. These shifts increased volume and volatility in the agricultural futures trading sector.

Steel and Aluminum Futures
As domestic industries were protected by tariffs, global prices fluctuated, leading to volatility in metals contracts.

Currency Futures Volatility
Trade tensions created uncertainty in forex markets. The U.S. dollar saw unpredictable moves, affecting currency futures brokers and traders.

Inflation and Interest Rate Speculation
Tariffs contributed to inflation concerns, leading traders to speculate in interest-rate futures trading markets. Brokers helped traders navigate these shifts.

Market Uncertainty and Sentiment
Tariffs shook investor confidence and led to unpredictable price movements across multiple asset classes. This amplified the need for skilled futures brokers who could help interpret news and guide strategic responses.

Working With Brokers Amid Tariffs and Market Disruption

Navigating the turbulent waters of trade wars and tariffs requires a seasoned futures broker who can become a trusted partner in weathering storms. Here’s how traders can collaborate effectively with their brokers:

Transparency in Objectives and Risk Appetite

Sharing one’s financial goals and risk tolerance helps the futures broker tailor a suitable trading strategy.

Leveraging Research and Insights

Best futures brokers, like Cannon Trading Company offer daily market commentary, reports, and real-time alerts that traders can use to stay ahead of policy shifts.

Hedging Against Policy Risk

If tariffs threaten supply chains or input costs, traders can work with brokers to hedge those risks through carefully chosen futures contracts.

Flexible and Responsive Platforms

Cannon Trading’s multiple FREE trading platforms allow traders to switch strategies, automate positions, and adapt to market developments instantly.

Risk Controls and Position Management

By working closely with brokers, traders can monitor exposure, modify stops, and rebalance portfolios.

Why Cannon Trading Company Is One of the Best Futures Brokers

In the realm of futures trading, few names carry the gravitas and trust that Cannon Trading Company commands. Founded in 1988, Cannon has remained a stalwart in the industry, offering traders the tools, service, and expertise needed for long-term success.

Decades of Industry Experience

With over 35 years in the business, Cannon has weathered multiple economic cycles, earning credibility and trust among traders.

Direct Access to Experienced Brokers

Clients never speak to machines. Cannon Trading Company ensures that real, licensed futures brokers are just a call away—a rarity in today’s automated world.

5-Star TrustPilot Ratings

Hundreds of satisfied clients have awarded Cannon with consistent 5/5-star ratings on TrustPilot, citing integrity, responsiveness, and deep expertise.

Wide Range of Free Trading Platforms

Unlike many firms that limit clients to a single system, Cannon offers access to a diverse array of high-performing platforms at no extra cost.

Reputation With Industry Regulators

Cannon boasts an exemplary compliance record with the NFA and CFTC, offering traders peace of mind in an era of increased scrutiny.

Global Market Access

Through their infrastructure, clients can trade futures contracts on global exchanges across sectors such as energy, metals, currencies, indices, and more.

Custom Broker Relationships

Whether a novice or a professional, each client receives personalized attention. This commitment to service sets Cannon apart from other futures brokers.

Cannon Trading’s Legacy: A Testament to Excellence

What makes a company thrive for over three decades in such a competitive space? The answer lies in consistency, ethics, innovation, and relationships.

Keys to Cannon Trading’s Longevity:

  • Client-Centric Philosophy: Cannon believes in empowering the trader, not in pushing sales or fees.
  • Constant Innovation: The company continually evaluates and adds trading tools, ensuring clients are never left behind technologically.
  • Transparency: Pricing, risk, and performance metrics are openly discussed with clients, fostering trust.
  • Education: Cannon Trading Company offers webinars, newsletters, and one-on-one coaching to enhance client competency in futures trading.

Their sustained excellence makes them one of the best futures brokers in an industry where firms come and go with the tides.

The role of future brokers is not just preserved but elevated in today’s financial ecosystem. With the global economy growing more unpredictable, futures brokers offer a lighthouse amid the fog of market volatility and political shifts. They provide risk mitigation, strategic insight, regulatory compliance, and platform support that no automated system can match.

Cannon Trading Company, with its decades of service, client-first model, regulatory integrity, and top-tier tools, stands as a beacon among the best futures brokers. Their legacy of trust, combined with modern infrastructure and personalized support, makes them the ideal partner for anyone serious about futures trading.

Whether you are navigating tariffs, leveraging diversification, or simply seeking to hedge against uncertainty, working with a top-tier futures broker like Cannon Trading can elevate your trading journey to new heights.

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.

Follow us on all socials: @cannontrading

Market Update: Copper Prices Rise Amid Economic Uncertainty

9dc1e02e d5f7 4ff4 abf7 1df60775f196

Market Highlights – NASDAQ, Copper

nasdaq

by Mark O’Brien, Senior Broker

Indexes – Nasdaq 

Stock index futures dipped today, led lower as pressure on the tariff front mounted.  The June E-mini S&P 500 Futures contract lost ±1.4%, while the E-mini Dow traded ±250 points lower, or 0.6%.  The E-mini Nasdaq shed about 2%.

Stock index futures hit session lows after the White House said that President Donald Trump will unveil new tariffs on auto imports during a press conference at 4 p.m. ET.  This will come ahead of a broad array of additional levies expected to be revealed next week.

Grains:

Discover new tools for planting season ahead of key reports.  The upcoming Prospective Plantings report can significantly impact market prices, especially if the actual numbers differ from pre-release estimates. New Weekly options on crops such as Corn, Soybean, Soybean Meal, Soybean Oil and Chicago Wheat offer more precise risk management around the report’s release.

Micro Corn futuresMicro Wheat futuresMicro Soybean futures, Micro Soybean Meal futures and Micro Soybean Oil  futures were launched on February 24, 2025, with the first weeks of trading already providing meaningful liquidity.

Financially settled Micro Agricultural futures allow customers to stay in their position closer to expiration, with no risk of physical delivery.

New Micro Agricultural futures are a tool for retail traders looking to gain exposure to commodity markets without incurring the risk of physical delivery and with less margin costs than standard Agricultural futures.

Small- to medium-size farmers can take advantage of Micro Agricultural futures to hedge parts of their expected harvest, without having to rely on standard Grains futures contracts of 5,000 bushels (according to the USDA, the average farm in the U.S. consists of 464 acres).

Metals – Copper

On December 31st, March copper futures settled at 4.0265.  Today, they were trading at about 5.22; an increase of about 30% in the first three months of the year and a 5+ year high.  This dramatic price action is driven by traders pricing in the possibility of hefty tariffs on the crucial industrial metal. The price gap between U.S. copper futures and the global benchmark on the London Metal Exchange has widened to record levels, creating a powerful incentive for traders to shift copper into the United States.

Daily Levels for March 27th, 2025

068f22df 6ecd 4900 9b44 e634f5cbacf7

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.

822b33c5 2339 45ed bc84 e9c8f8c7358e

Economic Reports

provided by: ForexFactory.com

All times are Eastern Time (New York)

6b7f3c90 2f0b 4945 a26f 53df39caabda

Find us on Trustpilot

stars

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!

S
Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn
S
ef3ab1c9 8d6d 4e60 a3f1 af5d9d4ecbb3
Services
Software
Tools
Community
Contact

Key Indicators to Watch in This Volatile Market

9dc1e02e d5f7 4ff4 abf7 1df60775f196

Bear Trap?

bear trap

What is a Bear Trap? Fed Speakers and more…

By John Thorpe, Senior Broker

With the Stock market pausing at these levels, what gives? Are we in a Bear Trap?

Bear Trap Definition:

A bear trap in trading occurs when an index appears to be in decline. Traders move in, expecting a continuing decline, posting short sales to profit from the downturn. However, the index unexpectedly reverses direction, causing those who bet against it (the bears) to lose on their trades.

Bear Trap: How to Mitigate Them

Bear Traps are very difficult to determine. This would mandate the need for good risk management tools, stops, option strategies, smaller position size when you believe your technical have signaled a bear market.

Choose your opportunities wisely. Prepare for shocks, on inflation soft and hard data in addition to the fed speakers the rest of this week. 2 tomorrow, 1 Thursday and 2 on Friday along with Core PCE Thursday and Mich. Consumer sentiment.

The Stock market has begun revealing the battle between Push-Pull inflation with Tariff uncertainty.

Kremlin on Tuesday acknowledged they’ve agreed to develop measures to stop strikes on Ukraine and Russian energy facilities for 30 days

Tomorrow:

Econ Data:   Durable Goods, EIA Crude Stocks

FED Speak: Kashkari 9:00 CDT, Musalem 9:10 CDT

Earnings: Quiet

943703b9 d439 48e5 a53f 98cac84a8b0f

May Copper

The rally in May copper took a brief pause after completing the second upside PriceCount objective last week. Now, the chart has resumed its rally where new sustained highs project a possible run to the third count to the 5.62 area.

5d695150 6195 405f b1e2 9263c87a92c7

Chart above 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

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 normalfor 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.

Daily Levels for March 26th, 2025

a6147703 ed61 4360 a861 1b7af3e9f2f4

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.

822b33c5 2339 45ed bc84 e9c8f8c7358e

Economic Reports

provided by: ForexFactory.com

All times are Eastern Time (New York)

78c69d6e ce34 4a04 bf11 7b4a2b3e4114

Find us on Trustpilot

stars

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!

S
Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn
S
ef3ab1c9 8d6d 4e60 a3f1 af5d9d4ecbb3
Services
Software
Tools
Community
Contact

Gold Surges to All-Time Record High of $3040 – 5 Key Signals, 7 Volatility Triggers Before the FOMC Decision

9dc1e02e d5f7 4ff4 abf7 1df60775f196

Movers & Shakers – GOLD

by John Thorpe, Senior Broker

gold nugg

 

Movers and Shakers:  FOMC Meeting Tomorrow @ 1:00PM CDT

    Market volatility is here to stay for the foreseeable future

Choose your opportunities wisely. Prepare for shocks on the tomorrow FOMC Rate decision but, more importantly, expect a roller coaster during the Chairman’s statement and Q and A 30 minutes to follow.

How gold is your portfolio? 

All time highs in Gold today. 3040.00 per troy ounce of Gold. We have all contract sizes, from 1 oz to 100 ounces of Gold.

Today was a subdued trading day for almost all of the high-volume products we trade compared to the past 30 days or so.

Waiting for FOMC rate decision?

GOLD

Here were today’s top headlines.

Updated: March 18, 2025 7:32 am

US Housing Starts and Building Permits Headline Recap

**US February Housing Starts: +11.2% to 1.501 mln units annualized rate; expected +1.0% to 1.38 mln

**US February Building Permits: -1.2% to 1.456 mln unit annualized rate; expected -2.2% to 1.45 mln

Updated: March 18, 2025 8:17 am

Federal Reserve US Industrial Production & Capacity Utilization Headline Recap

**Federal Reserve February US Industrial Production: +0.7%; expected +0.3%

**Federal Reserve February US Capacity Utilization: +0.5% to 78.2; expected 77.8%

**Federal Reserve January US Industrial Production revised: +0.3%; prior +0.5%

  • **Federal Reserve January US Capacity Utilization revised: 77.7%; prior 77.8%

Daily Levels for March 19th, 2025

5b0a901d f76a 41a5 aaa8 d6ac04d7bfc2

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.

822b33c5 2339 45ed bc84 e9c8f8c7358e

Economic Reports

provided by: ForexFactory.com

All times are Eastern Time (New York)

7e6cb20a 22ad 4753 83f5 6733219577f9

Find us on Trustpilot

stars

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!

S
Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn
S
ef3ab1c9 8d6d 4e60 a3f1 af5d9d4ecbb3
Services
Software
Tools
Community
Contact

Gold Surges to Record $2,974: Powerful Trends & Market Shifts in This Month’s Report

9dc1e02e d5f7 4ff4 abf7 1df60775f196

Monthly Micro

Gold, Silver and Copper

Markets Report

gold 2

Highlights in this issue include:

  • Gold prices reach new high of $2,974/oz amid tariff fears and a weaker USD.
  • Silver prices down 2.4% MoM: weaker industrial demand concerns persist.
  • Copper prices gain 1.8% MoM, the third consecutive month of growth despite tariff uncertainty.
  • Micro Gold futures saw 21% MoM growth in February.

1-Ounce Gold futures see strong start: ADV reached 8,144 contracts in February.

READ FULL REPORT

274b1347 15da 400e 97fd 4a4a0a69de51

Daily Levels for March 18th, 2025

JUNE levels for stock index futures will be sent out tomorrow morning around the cash open!

92fe099a 55bf 4bed a8ac a313de0a7aad

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.

822b33c5 2339 45ed bc84 e9c8f8c7358e

Economic Reports

provided by: ForexFactory.com

All times are Eastern Time (New York)

7493ff45 7526 4721 b0b6 cc4b121c51da

Find us on Trustpilot

stars

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!

S
Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn
S
ef3ab1c9 8d6d 4e60 a3f1 af5d9d4ecbb3
Services
Software
Tools
Community
Contact

Currency & Stock Index Futures: Avoid Costly Mistakes with these 3 Critical Deadlines

7cfe5b36 db9f 4933 824a 7f264613e7fe

Cannon Futures Weekly Letter

In Today’s Issue #1234

  • Rollover
  • The Week Ahead – FOMC, Housing
  • Futures 102 – Can you handle Drawdowns??
  • Hot Market of the Week – May KC/ Chi Wheat Spread
  • Broker’s Trading System of the Week – NQ intraday System
  • Trading Levels for Next Week
  • Trading Reports for Next Week

currency

Currencies Last Trading Day & Stock Index rollover

Time to start trading June Stock Index futures like MESM25 and MNQM25.

Symbol for June is M.

Monday, March 17th is Last Trading Day for all currency futures contracts, except the Canadian Dollar (Last Trading Day for the Canadian Dollar is Tuesday, March 18th). Currency futures contracts are DELIVERABLE CONTRACTS. You need to exit ALL LONG and SHORT open positions or be required to deliver or take delivery of the ACTUAL NOMINAL VALUE of the respective futures contract, i.e. $12,500 Euros, or $12,500,000 Japanese Yen. DO NOT put your account is this position. Exit all March ‘25 currency futures. Start trading currency futures with the June ’25 futures contracts.

Friday, March. 21st is Last Trading Day for March stock index futures contracts, i.e., the E-mini S&P, E-mini NASDAQ, E-mini Dow Jones and their Micro relatives. These futures contracts will halt trading at 8:30 A.M., Central Time and are cash settled, meaning any remaining open positions will be offset/settled using a to-be-determined settlement price. It is recommended that all new positions be placed in the June ‘25 futures contracts as of this Sunday night’s opening of trading. Volume in the March ‘25 contracts will begin to drop off until their expiration Friday, March. 21th.

Important Notices: The Week Ahead

By John Thorpe, Senior Broker

FOMC Week!

Indices traders roll to June, —M25

The Senate will vote today on a continuing resolution spending bill to keep the govt. open until Sept. 30. It must be on the Presidents desk by 11:59 pm EST to avoid a shut down, This may occur during market hours or after.

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 include Housing Data as well as the Wednesday Rate decision. Earnings reports continue to dwindle with 271 total reports while we are in the top of the 9th inning of earnings season, the reports will be impacting the indices much less than in past weeks Highlighted by many Chinese corp. reports. Finally, for Indices traders, contract rollover Monday. June will become the front month. M25. If you are on the new StoneX Platform, click on your current month tab at the top of your DOM or HOT to open the menu. Then slide down to Replace, now type in EPM25 if you are trading the Mini-S&P or ENQM25 for the Mini Nasdaq.

Earnings Next Week:

  • Mon. Quiet
  • Tue. Quiet
  • Wed. Tencent
  • Thu. Micron, Nike
  • Fri. Quiet

FED SPEECHES:

  • Mon.     Fed Blackout period
  • Tues.     Fed Blackout Period persists
  • Wed.     Fed Rate Decision 3/19/25 Chair Powell will Speak, 30 minutes after the rate decision.
  • Thu.      Last day of Fed Blackout period
  • Fri.       Williams 8:05 am CDT

Economic Data week:

  • Mon. Empire State Mfg., NAHB Housing Market Index
  • Tue. Bldg. Permits, Housing Starts, Redbook, Industrial Production
  • Wed. EIA Crude Stocks, FOMC I.R. Decision 1:00 pm followed by Fed Presser 1:30 pm CDT
  • Thur. Initial Jobless Claims, Philly Fed, Existing Home Sales, EIA Nat Gas
  • Fri Quiet

Futures 102: System Traders: Can you handle the drawdowns?

Many investors may think, “I can handle drawdown”, but honestly you have no idea how much drawdown you can handle until you have been stuck in the eye of a number of your own personal drawdown storms.

While drawdown is a natural part of trading and investing, what does differ is how much drawdown each investor can mentally handle. As humans, we all ‘see’ the world differently. What appears as something normal to one person can appear completely disastrous to another. While a 10% portfolio drawdown could be extreme for one investor, the next investor may be able to trade through periods of 50% plus drawdown.

From the behavioral finance point of view, some of the main negative facts of the human brain related to trading are:

  1. The fact that weak traders tend to be reluctant to realize losses and quick to realize gains. They are more risk averse when dealing with profitable positions and more risk seeking when dealing with losses.
  2. The fact that weak traders make inconsistent and irrational economic decisions over the same scenario depending on how it is described.
  3. The fact that weak traders deals with positions as if they were expecting mean reversion of prices. They are expecting the price to return to a long term average. This is the principle that makes them think they are buying expensive positions on volatility breakout or trend following strategies.

It is out of the scope of this article to talk much more about this science, but I will just point that:

  1. Weak traders know nothing about behavioral finance, so they think that his gut feeling is right and base their decisions on his gut feeling.
  2. Smart traders knows about behavioral finance. A smart trader has already studied about this and trained himself to overcome this limitations.  At least they know how to deal with their brain to avoid most of the damage it can create on their trading accounts. The best traders knows even how to monetize from this herd behavior.

Are drawdown periods a bad thing?

 

In my opinion, they are not a bad thing, in fact I believe that drawdown periods are a very sane and good thing for any solid strategy. Drawdown periods are very efficient to shake out weak traders from the strategy while smarter traders can pick up their money (which is the name of the game after all).

The time that passes since the first equity high until we reach a new equity high is the drawdown period.

So a drawdown period has two dimensions:

  • The drawdown depth
  • The drawdown length

Most people mostly care about the drawdown depth as this is what is easier to see on back tests. But human the brain is much more affected by drawdown length. During live trading, it is easier to deal with a 10% drawdown for one week than with a 5% drawdown for five months.

  • Detailed statistical information about the strategy: Expected profit, expected drawdown, maximal drawdown depth and length, average win percentage, reward to risk ratio, …
  • Different scenarios and the actions to take (if any): intense and/or deep drawdown periods and what to do (or do nothing), whether to trade during Christmas time or summer time, whether to keep opened positions during weekends or not, what to do after a losing year (or do nothing), funding and withdrawing plan, …
  • A very clear worst case scenario: it is basically the “line in the sand” where we know that the strategy has lost it’s edge and something must be done (stop trading the strategy, adapting parameters, …). There are many ways to calculate it (double the max historical drawdown, using montecarlo simulations, using regression lines multiplied by x times the standard deviation on the equity curve, …). In the end it is a number. The important thing is to have it written in the trading plan.

When facing a problem that generates pain or panic such as a sudden deep drawdown, most of the time, when analyzed with rigor and care, the problem is not so important, and everything is within expected statistics. You will see that there were many periods in the past with similar characteristics.

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 KC – Chicago Wheat Spread

The KC-Chicago wheat spread has resumed its rally into a new high. If the chart can sustain further strength, the second upside PriceCount projects a possible run to the 32-cent area.

04f865a9 1c11 4576 b13a 867dcc05b204

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.

Intra Nasdaq

PRODUCT

Mini NASDAQ

SYSTEM TYPE

Day Trading

Recommended Cannon Trading Starting Capital

$20,000

COST

USD 85 / monthly

Get Started

Learn More

98f6920d d939 4f0b a401 19b6cebb6155

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 get weekly updates on real-time, results of systems mentioned above?
Yes
No

Trading Levels for Next Week

Daily Levels for March 17th, 2025

68e10b2b d361 4459 99e9 c157f620ce96

Would you like to receive daily support & resistance levels?
Yes
No

Trading Reports for Next Week

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

www.mrci.com 

b74635bd 884f 41ea b758 e4a8b904d3f3

Find us on Trustpilot

stars

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!

S
Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn
S
ef3ab1c9 8d6d 4e60 a3f1 af5d9d4ecbb3
Services
Software
Tools
Community
Contact

Volatility Warning: 3 Crucial Adjustments to Avoid Devastating Losses in High Volatility!

9dc1e02e d5f7 4ff4 abf7 1df60775f196

Volatility Expands

volatility 2

Volatility is high!!

Volatility alert: The “bands” are expanding, consider reducing trading size? Possibly trading MICROS?

Evaluating your stops and targets to make sure they adjust to volatility?

Daily Levels for March 14th, 2025

a2976065 b56b 4444 b745 f2da20f3b7f8

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.

822b33c5 2339 45ed bc84 e9c8f8c7358e

Economic Reports

provided by: ForexFactory.com

All times are Eastern Time (New York)

1d8ea8d0 dea7 449c 81f2 9ee6b25ac0a2

Find us on Trustpilot

stars

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!

S
Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn
S
ef3ab1c9 8d6d 4e60 a3f1 af5d9d4ecbb3
Services
Software
Tools
Community
Contact

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

9dc1e02e d5f7 4ff4 abf7 1df60775f196

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.

S

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.

0e99bbc0 9525 4d6a b618 92dc6ff487b8

Daily Levels for March 6th, 2025

d5322ea5 19d1 4167 952f 10a901eda3f5

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.

822b33c5 2339 45ed bc84 e9c8f8c7358e

Economic Reports

provided by: ForexFactory.com

All times are Eastern Time (New York)

da172104 6c0a 4cfc 9a2d 0eb288e8412e

Find us on Trustpilot

stars

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!

S
Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn
S
ef3ab1c9 8d6d 4e60 a3f1 af5d9d4ecbb3
Services
Software
Tools
Community
Contact

April Unleaded Gasoline & New Micro Futures – Grains, Oilseeds: Market Insights for Tomorrow

9dc1e02e d5f7 4ff4 abf7 1df60775f196

unleaded gasoline

April Unleaded Gasoline takes the spotlight!

Different Markets for Day Trading

April Unleaded Gasoline.

Busy trading day tomorrow with many different reports – please check the calendar below!!

Micro Futures – Grains, Oilseeds.

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.”

S

Micro Futures

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.

April Unleaded Gasoline

April unleaded gasoline activated downside PriceCount objectives off the January top and is completing the first count to 2.20. It would be normal to get a near term reaction in the form of a consolidation or corrective trade from this level. If the chart can sustain further weakness, the second count would project a possible run to the 2.15 area. It would take a trade below the October reactionary low to formally negate the remaining unmet upside objectives.

8543b5d2 355a 49d4 9a64 caa84069c6db

Daily Levels for February 27th, 2025

16348e38 09fd 4adf 9266 ad7e8ef932a1

822b33c5 2339 45ed bc84 e9c8f8c7358e

Economic Reports

provided by: ForexFactory.com

All times are Eastern Time (New York)

07b1e217 b198 49a5 898c 11ad8b8e4990

Find us on Trustpilot

stars

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!

S
Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn
S
ef3ab1c9 8d6d 4e60 a3f1 af5d9d4ecbb3
Services
Software
Tools
Community
Contact