Futures Trading

In a world that never stops shifting, futures trading has remained a core pillar of modern financial markets. With increased geopolitical uncertainties, ongoing economic upheavals, and recent shifts in U.S. trade policy, professional traders have turned to sophisticated strategies to adapt, survive, and thrive.

At the heart of these strategies is the use of futures contracts, leveraged financial instruments that allow traders to speculate on the direction of prices for commodities, currencies, indices, and interest rates. Today’s article not only highlights 10 expert trading techniques used during market volatility but also explains how your futures broker plays a critical role in facilitating these trades while managing risk. Special attention is given to the ripple effects of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump and their lingering influence on futures markets. Finally, we’ll spotlight Cannon Trading Company, one of the best futures brokers in the business, exploring how it has built and maintained its impressive legacy.

  1. Trend Following with Adaptive Moving Averages
    Technique Overview: Trend following involves identifying and riding the direction of market trends. By using adaptive moving averages like the Kaufman Adaptive Moving Average (KAMA), traders can smooth out noise and act only when significant movements occur.Risk Assessment: Medium risk. This technique can perform poorly in sideways markets, leading to false signals.Broker Facilitation: Your futures broker can provide robust charting tools, backtesting environments, and automated trade execution to support this strategy.
  1. Contrarian Trading Based on Sentiment Indicators
    Technique Overview: Contrarian traders go against prevailing market sentiment when it reaches extremes. Tools like the Commitment of Traders (COT) report help gauge market positioning.Risk Assessment: High risk. Being early can mean substantial drawdowns before reversal.Broker Facilitation: Access to real-time sentiment data and professional market insights is crucial—services Cannon Trading Company offers in abundance.
  1. Spread Trading (Inter-Commodity and Intra-Commodity)
    Technique Overview: This strategy involves buying one contract and selling another to profit from the price difference between related instruments.Risk Assessment: Low to medium risk. Spreads tend to be more stable than outright positions.Broker Facilitation: Cannon’s platforms allow advanced spread execution and margin efficiencies that are essential for this method.
  1. Volatility Breakout Systems
    Technique Overview: This method capitalizes on price breakouts following periods of low volatility. Traders use tools like Bollinger Bands to set breakout triggers.Risk Assessment: Medium to high risk. False breakouts can occur in choppy markets.Broker Facilitation: Fast, reliable execution and customizable alerts are key services provided by top futures brokers like Cannon.
  1. Seasonal Pattern Recognition
    Technique Overview: Certain markets, like agriculture and energy, follow predictable seasonal patterns. Professional traders use historical data to anticipate moves.Risk Assessment: Medium risk. Weather and political developments can override seasonal trends.
  1. Hedging with Index Futures
    Technique Overview: Institutional and retail traders use index futures to hedge their portfolios during turbulent periods.Risk Assessment: Low risk if used correctly. Misjudging beta correlations can reduce hedge effectiveness.Broker Facilitation: Cannon Trading Company offers personalized broker consultations to calculate hedge ratios and recommend appropriate instruments.
  1. Event-Driven Futures Trading
    Technique Overview: Traders capitalize on events like interest rate decisions, employment reports, and geopolitical crises.Risk Assessment: High risk due to the unpredictability of outcomes and market reactions.Broker Facilitation: Speed, expert commentary, and real-time news feeds are services only elite futures trading firms provide.
  1. Quantitative Algorithmic Strategies
    Technique Overview: These involve using mathematical models to generate trading signals. Common models include mean reversion, arbitrage, and momentum-based strategies.Risk Assessment: Varies depending on model complexity. High for poorly tested models.Broker Facilitation: Cannon supports various platforms ideal for algorithmic trading futures, such as MultiCharts and SierraChart.
  1. Using Options on Futures for Risk Management
    Technique Overview: Options offer a way to control risk with predefined loss levels while maintaining upside potential.Risk Assessment: Low to medium, depending on the strategy (e.g., straddles, strangles, vertical spreads).Broker Facilitation: Experienced brokers like those at Cannon can tailor options strategies to the trader’s risk profile.
  1. Micro Futures for Scalping
    Technique Overview: Micro futures allow for smaller trade sizes, ideal for scalping strategies that require frequent entries and exits.Risk Assessment: Low risk per trade, but potentially high due to cumulative effects of frequent trading.Broker Facilitation: Low commissions and fast execution—standard offerings at Cannon—are crucial for scalpers.

Tariffs and the Futures Markets: The Trump Effect

The tariffs President Trump’s administration imposed—especially on steel, aluminum, and Chinese goods—continue to affect futures markets today. These policies have reshaped global supply chains and introduced lasting price distortions in key commodities like soybeans, crude oil, and industrial metals.

Lingering Impacts Include:

  • Increased volatility in agriculture futures due to disrupted export channels.
  • Supply bottlenecks in metals, inflating futures prices.
  • Continued geopolitical risk premiums priced into energy markets.

As a result, professional futures trading strategies must now incorporate macroeconomic forecasting and geopolitical analysis to remain effective.

Why Cannon Trading Company is Among the Best Futures Brokers

For more than three decades, Cannon Trading Company has been synonymous with excellence in futures trading. Here’s why traders—from beginners to professionals—consider it among the best futures brokers in the industry:

Unparalleled Customer Service

No automated voice systems. At Cannon, real brokers—many with over 20 years of experience—are a call away. This direct human connection ensures that your trades and concerns receive immediate attention.

Wide Array of Free Trading Platforms

Whether you prefer technical analysis, fast execution, or automated strategies, Cannon offers FREE access to leading platforms like:

  • SierraChart
  • MultiCharts
  • TradingView
  • CQG
  • TT (Trading Technologies)

These platforms empower futures traders with speed, precision, and customization.

Trust and Transparency

Boasting numerous 5-star reviews on TrustPilot, Cannon Trading is recognized for its ethical practices and reliability. With a clean regulatory track record and transparent fee structures, clients know they’re in safe hands.

Legacy and Stability

Founded in 1988, Cannon has weathered every market storm from the dot-com bubble to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its endurance is a testament to strong leadership, financial prudence, and client-centric philosophy.

Global Market Access

From grains to cryptocurrencies, Cannon supports trading across a broad spectrum of futures contracts, offering both diversity and specialization.

Regulatory Excellence

Cannon maintains stellar standing with industry regulators such as the NFA and CFTC. This instills trust and peace of mind for clients around the globe.

The Road Ahead

In volatile markets, survival depends on precision, discipline, and the right partnerships. Advanced trading techniques are only as good as the tools and guidance behind them. A seasoned futures broker not only facilitates trades but also acts as a strategic ally.

In this ever-evolving landscape, trading futures remains both a science and an art. And with Cannon Trading Company by your side, you gain not just a service provider, but a legacy partner committed to your success.

For more information, click here.

Ready to start trading futures? Call us at1(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

July Corn, 3 Powerful Insights from Corn’s Easter Rally: What Traders Need to Know Now

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Markets are Closed Tomorrow!

Markets are closed tomorrow!! July Corn!

Trading Corn Futures

See Good Friday Schedule below.

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Good Friday Modified Trading Schedule

This coming Friday, April 18th is Good Friday.

Please see below the modified trading schedule for Good Friday and Easter for CME and ICE exchanges

For the full schedule and details: click here.

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July Corn

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July corn rallied to its second upside PriceCount objective off the spring low and the chart is correcting its overbought posture. At this point, IF the chart can resume its rally into new sustained highs, the third count would project a possible run to the $5.20 area which is consistent with the February high and the original second count off the contract low.

Corn

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.

Daily Levels for April 21st, 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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Nasdaq, Mini Dow, Mini S&P: Avoid These 4 Costly Mistakes in a $10,545 Nasdaq Whipsaw

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Buckle your Seatbelts; Equities, Commodities Turbulence continues

By John Thorpe, Senior Broker

Nasdaq

nasdaq

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

Mini – Nasdaq

Choose your opportunities wisely.

Federal Reserve Chairman Powell: still uncertain what the administration’s new trade policies will be, and that can cause “huge” issue for manufactures input prices affected by tariffs.

Mini Dow’s range today? 1080 points $value? = $5400.00 from hi to lo

Mini S & P’s range today? 169.00 points $ Value? = $8450.00 from hi to lo

Mini Nasdaq’s range today? 527.25 points $value? = $10545.00 from hi to lo

How gold is your portfolio?

All-time highs in the yellow metal today. 3358.4 per troy ounce currently trading @ 3355.5.00 + over $110.00 per oz. We offer all exchange traded contract sizes, from 1 oz to 100 ounces.

Tomorrow:

Econ Data:  Bldg Permits, Housing Starts, Initial Jobless claims, Philly Fed, EIA Nat Gas.

FED Speak: Barr

Earnings: Netflix United Healthcare, Amex.

Tariff news: Anything goes!

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Good Friday Modified Trading Schedule

This coming Friday, April 18th is Good Friday.

Please see below the modified trading schedule for Good Friday and Easter for CME and ICE exchanges

For the full schedule and details: click here.

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Daily Levels for April 17th, 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

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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

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Zero-Day Options: 6 Strong Advantages Over Traditional Day Trading

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0DTE Options

Options 3

By Mark O’Brien, Senior Broker

Options

Zero-day options are normal options — puts and calls — that expire in less than one day, hence the “0DTE” nickname (short for “zero days to expiration”).

In the current high-volatility environment we’re experiencing – one very likely to last awhile – one of the better alternatives to day trading, particularly in stock index futures like the E-mini S&P 500, E-mini Nasdaq, etc., is buying short-term call and put options.

With expirations every day of the week, stock index futures options can be purchased with minimal overall time value and give you a maximum risk coupled with a limitless upside potential.

Especially with markets seemingly hair-triggered to make large daily moves, but with erratic action intraday, the purchase of a limited-risk option provides staying power that no amount of rapid in-and-out trading trying to catch a large move can outperform.

Daily Levels for April 11th, 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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In times of Volatility, Avoid These 7 Costly Mistakes During 3000+ Point Dow Jones Days

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Extreme Volatility + CPI Tomorrow

volatile

By Mark O’Brien, Senior Broker

Dow Jones & other indices

Dow Jones

As of this typing stock index futures and other futures contracts have experienced single-day range moves not seen in years and after being down, finished up:

→ E-mini Dow Jones: UP +3044 points / 8.4%

→ E-mini S&P 500: UP +480 points / 9.5%

→ E-mini Nasdaq: UP +2038 points / 11.71%

→ Crude Oil: UP +320 points / 5.2%

Volatility is skyrocketing.

This is a completely different environment of extreme trading volatility than what we were trading in 3-4 weeks ago. Markets are evolving and you must adapt your trading to changing market conditions.

This is where you find out what kind of risk taker you are; brash, overbold, unheeding, or prudent, attentive, discriminating. Everyone possesses these traits – and they influence our decision-making differently in different situations.

In trading, if the historical price moves you’re seeing bring out the daredevil in you, plan to watch your trade results all over the place: up and down more than your everyday swings with the odds increasing your account will hit a wall.

Instead, incorporate patience and prudence. Start your trading by setting daily profit targets and daily loss limits and stick to them. Do that for each trade. These days, be aware of LIMIT moves and understand what happens when the market halts at limit levels.

Find daily price limits for CME Group Agricultural, Cryptocurrency, Energy, Equity Index, Interest Rates, and Metals products: click here.

June Dollar Index

The June dollar has had a short term correction after extending its break to the third downside PriceCount objective. IF the chart can resume its slide with new sustained lows, it would have the contract low to contend with before a possible run to the low percentage fourth count to the 98.85 area.

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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.

Daily Levels for April 10th, 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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5 Key Price Limit Insights That Help Navigate May Bean Oil Volatility

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Cannon Futures Weekly Letter

In Today’s Issue #1237

  • About Price Limits

  • The Week Ahead – FOMC Minutes, tariffs News to Fuel Volatility
  • Futures 102 – Technical Analysis Course
  • Hot Market of the Week – May Bean Oil
  • Broker’s Trading System of the Week – Abacus Raider NQ Day Trading System
  • Trading Levels for Next Week
  • Trading Reports for Next Week

Price Limit

price limit

A price limit is the maximum price range permitted for a futures contract in each trading session. When markets hit the price limit, different actions occur depending on the product being traded.

Some markets may temporarily halt until price limits can be expanded or trading may be stopped for the day based on regulatory rules.

Different futures contracts will have different price limit rules; i.e. Equity Index futures have different rules than Agricultural futures.

Price limits are re-calculated daily and remain in effect for all trading days (except in certain physically-deliverable markets, where price limits are lifted prior to expiration so that futures prices are not prevented from converging on prices for the underlying commodity).

Equity Indexes futures have a three level expansion: 7%, 13% and 20% to the downside, and a 7% limit up and down in overnight trading.

Follow the links below to the CME Group web site to find more information on price limits generally and specific price limits for the markets you’re trading:

Find daily price limits for CME Group Agricultural, Cryptocurrency, Energy, Equity Index, Interest Rates, and Metals products: click here.

Price Limit

Important Notices: The Week Ahead

By Mark O’Brien, Senior Broker

Tariffs News & FOMC Minutes to Dominate Markets & Volatility

U.S. stocks and many commodities like metals, energies, softs and grains were battered by a sell-off Friday after China retaliated against the United States for President Donald Trump’s tariffs in a tit-for-tat that looks to be escalating a global trade war.

The E-mini Dow Jones futures contract plunged by over 2,150 points this afternoon, ±5.3%. The broader E-mini S&P 500 was 5.9% lower. The E-mini Nasdaq futures contract dropped over 1000 points for the second day / ±5.9% on track to close in a bear market — down more than 20% from its record high in December.

Traders have been looking at the dramatic escalation of a trade war and viewing it as a potential to plunge the U.S. and global economies into recession.

The feeling is that odds of a recession would rise if countries began to retaliate against the United States — and China did so Friday. Retaliation raises the risk of further escalation and could diminish hopes for negotiation.

FED SPEECHES:

  • Mon.    Bostic 12: Fed Governor Adriana Kugler speaks, 9:30 A.M., C.T.
  • Tues.  No scheduled Fed speakers
  • Wed.    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin speaks, 10:00 A.M.,C.T.
  • Thu.     Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid speaks, 9:00 A.M., C.T.
  •         Fed Governor Michelle Bowman testifies to Senate, 9:00 A.M., C.T.
  • Fri.      New York Fed President Williams speaks, 100:00 A.M., C.T.

Economic Data week:

  • Mon. Consumer Credit, 2:00 P.M., C.T.
  • Tue. Quiet
  • Wed. Wholesale Inventories, Minutes of Fed.’s March FOMC meeting
  • Thur. Consumer Price Index, Initial Jobless Claims
  • Fri. Producer Price Index

Futures 102: Technical Analysis

Course overview

There are two types of analysis used by traders to inform their trading decisions. Technical analysis and fundamental analysis. In this course, you will learn about the various patterns, indicators, and analysis techniques traders use when studying the price of a commodity.

We will start at the beginning by learning how to read price charts. Then we’ll cover some of the more popular techniques such how to identify trend and reversal patterns, finding support and resistance levels, and various oscillators.

Start FREE Course 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

bean oil

May Bean Oil

May bean oil accelerated to its third upside PriceCount objective that was consistent with a challenge of the overhead highs. Now, the chart is correcting.

At this point, IF you can break out above the Nov/Feb Peaks and sustain new highs, the low percentage fourth count would project a possible run to 53.68 which is near the original third objective at 53.90.

The convergence of PriceCounts adds to the significance of that target area.

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That’s May Bean Oil!

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

Abacus Raider NQ Trading System

Market Sector: Stock Index Futures

Markets Traded:   NQ

System Type: Day Trading

Risk per Trade: varies

Trading Rules: Partially Disclosed

Suggested Capital: $10,000

Developer Fee per contract: $70.00 Monthly Subscription

System Description: 

An NQ day trading system currently traded by the developer who has 15+ years’ experience. The system identifies opportunities where there is a high probability of profit over a time frame lasting no longer than a few minutes. Short holding periods reduce risk and drawdown size and require less capital.

The system trades long and short, performs in low or high volatility markets and has no significant correlation to the S&P500 index. It is robust with simple logic and averages 4-5 trades a month with no overnight positions. System is not available in the MNQ market.

Get Started

Learn More

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Disclaimer The risk of trading can be substantial and each investor and/or trader must consider whether this is a suitable investment. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

Futures Trading Disclaimer:

Transactions in securities futures, commodity and index futures and options on futures carry a high degree of risk. The amount of initial margin is small relative to the value of the futures contract, meaning that transactions are heavily “leveraged”.

A relatively small market movement will have a proportionately larger impact on the funds you have deposited or will have to deposit: this may work against you as well as for you. You may sustain a total loss of initial margin funds and any additional funds deposited with the clearing firm to maintain your position.

If the market moves against your position or margin levels are increased, you may be called upon to pay substantial additional funds on short notice to maintain your position.

If you fail to comply with a request for additional funds within the time prescribed, your position may be liquidated at a loss and you will be liable for any resulting deficit.

 Please read full disclaimer HERE.

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Trading Levels for Next Week

Daily Levels for April 7th, 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.

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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Confident Outlook for First Notice & Last Trading Days: 2 Strategic Exit Dates and a Bullish Setup for Treasury Traders

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First Notice & Last Trading Day

first notice

Below are the contracts which are entering

First Notice / Last Trading

 For April.

Be advised, for contracts that are deliverable, it is requested that all LONG positions be exited two days prior to First Notice and ALL positions be exited the day prior to Last Trading Day.

First Notice & Last Trading Day

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Try MICRO Grains, grain futures and many other futures with our REALTIME state of the art FREE platform! 

FREE DEMO HERE

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That’s all for

First Notice & Last Trading

Days

June 10 Year Treasury Notes

June 10 year treasury notes satisfied a first upside PriceCount objective last month and spent time consolidating with a sideways trade. Now, the chart is attempting to resume its rally where new sustained highs would project a possible run to the second count in the 113^26 area.

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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.

Daily Levels for April 3rd, 2025

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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 Update: Copper Prices Rise Amid Economic Uncertainty

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Market Highlights – NASDAQ, Copper

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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

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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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FOMC: Shocking Decision Just Sent Gold Soaring: 3 Big Reasons Why

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Market Highlights

by Mark O’Brien, Senior Broker

The Day After FOMC

fomc

FOMC Meeting Update  

The FOMC left interest rates unchanged today.  In language newly added to its policy statement, “Uncertainty around the economic outlook has increased.”  Surveys of consumers and businesses, corporate earnings, and financial markets, albeit “soft data,” have suggested that the economic ground may be shifting beneath our feet.  Last Friday, the University of Michigan’s preliminary survey of consumer sentiment for March sank for the third straight month, showing sharply lower expectations for the future – regardless of respondents’ party affiliations.  Warnings have percolated from airlines and retailers, i.e. Dollar General and Walmart, about underwhelming consumer demand.  Outplacement firm Challenger Gray & Christmas announced layoffs reached their highest levels since the summer of 2020, when the pandemic was in full force — and the highest level for the month of February since 2009. That’s all for the FOMC for now.

Metals:

Gold prices edged higher to hover near all-time highs on the heels of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s post announcement press conference.

Daily Levels for March 20th, 2025

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

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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.

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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.

Intra Nasdaq

PRODUCT

Mini NASDAQ

SYSTEM TYPE

Day Trading

Recommended Cannon Trading Starting Capital

$20,000

COST

USD 85 / 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 17th, 2025

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Trading Reports for Next Week

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

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