FOMC, Gold, Cocoa, Levels, Reports; Your 5 Important Need-To-Knows for Trading Futures on August 20th, 2025

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FOMC Minutes Tomorrow & Gold Bear Put Spread Insight

By John Thorpe, Senior Broker

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Markets have been calm so far this week (FOMC Minutes tomorrow)

What goes up must come down?

Does Newtons law of Gravity capsulized by the quote” what goes up, must come down” apply metaphorically to prices on assets? this quote reminds us of the inherent predictability and order found in nature by earths gravitational pull.

The question becomes, what pulls asset prices down? and how does the investor protect or benefit from forces pulling prices down?

Since the forces pushing prices of assets lower are much harder to determine than a simple law like gravitational pull without doubt make what goes up must come down a truest statement, that doesn’t mean we can’t protect our investments or even benefit from selloffs of commodities, equities and other assets we hold.

Gold will be a good example to explain 2 common risk management strategies since this asset has been range bound for some time now, having become comfortable in a relatively narrow price range since Memorial Day after a runup to start the year.

One report indicates that gold opened at $2,633 per ounce on January 2, 2025, and as of August 15, 2025, it was trading around $3,383 per ounce, marking a 24.9% increase,

Protecting your long gold futures contracts, GLD ETF or your personal gold stash you can use futures options as an insurance policy to cover your downside risk.

You believe the price of gold is ready to fall on a breakout to the downside. You can buy Comex Gold Puts. How Gold Puts Work:

Buying a Put

  • You buy a gold put option when you expect gold prices to fall.
  • The put gains value as gold declines.
  • If gold drops below the strike price, you can:
  1. Sell the put at a profit, or
  2. Exercise it to take a short position in gold futures at the strike price.

Gold option premiums consist of intrinsic value and time value:

Premium=Intrinsic Value+Time Value\text{Premium} = \text{Intrinsic Value} + \text{Time Value}Premium=Intrinsic Value+Time Value

  • Intrinsic Value = Max(Strike − Futures Price, 0)
  • Time Value = Based on volatility, time to expiration, and interest rates

For example:

If gold = $3380.00 and your put strike = $3400.00:

  • Intrinsic = $20
  • If option trades at $28 → Time Value = $8

A bear put spread is an options strategy used when you expect the price of gold to decline moderately.

You buy a put option (higher strike) and sell a put option (lower strike) with the same expiration date.

  • The long put gives you downside profit potential.
  • The short put helps reduce the cost of the trade.
  • This caps both your risk and your max profit.

Click here for the Gold Bear Put Spread Cheat Sheet.

Please click here to access the: Comex Gold Bear Put Spread Cheat Sheet. We will be happy to walk you through and answer any questions, just give us a call.

Tomorrow:

Econ Data: EIA Crude Stocks, 17-week T-Bill auction, FOMC Minutes. Jackson Hole symposium begins

FED: 2 speakers

Earnings: TJX Companies, Lowes, Analog Devices Inc. Target

Tariff news:  Anything goes!

Click here for the Gold Bear Put Spread Cheat Sheet.

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Dec. Cocoa

December cocoa completed its first upside PriceCount objective and is correcting lower. IF the chart can resume its rally with new sustained highs, the second count would project a possible run to the 9379 area. It takes a trade above the June reactionary high to formally negate the remaining unmet downside objectives

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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 Aug 20th, 2025

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Want to feature our updated trading levels on your website? Simply paste a small code, and they’ll update automatically every day! 

Click here for quick and easy instructions.

Economic Reports

provided by: ForexFactory.com

All times are Eastern Time ( New York)

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Trading Futures, Options on Futures, and retail off-exchange foreign currency transactions involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. You should carefully consider whether trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances, knowledge, and financial resources. You may lose all or more of your initial investment. Opinions, market data, and recommendations are subject to change at any time.

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3 Explosive, Novel Opportunities in Bitcoin & Cocoa Futures You Can’t Miss

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Cannon Futures Weekly Letter

In Today’s Issue #1235

May Cocoa, Bitcoin Futures

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  • The Week Ahead – Inflation Data, Earnings & Housing
  • Futures 102 – Intro to Bitcoin Futures
  • Hot Market of the Week – May Cocoa

  • Broker’s Trading System of the Week – Mini SP500 intraday System
  • Trading Levels for Next Week
  • Trading Reports for Next Week

First week of Spring!

Important Notices: The Week Ahead

By John Thorpe, Senior Broker

 

Where will volatility come from next week?

 

Highlights next week will include more Housing data and plenty of “Soft Data” about consumer confidence and hard data about inflation. Earnings are in the bottom of the Ninth inning, I have included below the largest cap stocks reporting next week, you will agree: these should not have much of an impact on the price of any of the indices.

Finally, the FED Speakers are back! 9 separate speeches, the times are below.

Earnings Next Week:

  • Mon. McCormick Spice co
  • Tue. Gamestop
  • Wed. Cintas, Paychex,inc, Dollartree
  • Thu. Lululemon
  • Fri. Quiet

FED SPEECHES:

  • Mon.     Bostic 12:45 CDT, Barr 2:10 CDT,
  • Tues.     Kugler 7:40 CDT, Williams 8:05 CDT ,
  • Wed.     Kashkari 9:00 CDT, Musalem 9:10 CDT
  • Thu.      Barkin 3:30 CDT
  • Fri.       Barr 11:15 CDT, Bostic 2:30 CDT

Economic Data week:

  • Mon. Chicago Fed Nat’ l activity index, S&P Global composite PMI
  • Tue. Redbook, Case Schiller Home Price index, Consumer confidence, New Home Sales, Richmond Fed Mfg. Index,
  • Wed. Durable Goods, EIA Crude Stocks
  • Thur. GDP Final (consensus 2.3 % ann growth rate) , Core PCE (consensus 2.7%) Initial Jobless Claims, Pending Home Sales, EIA Nat Gas.
  • Fri. Core PCE M o M, Michigan Consumer Sentiment

Futures 102: Introduction to Cryptocurrency futures

Course overview

Cryptocurrency futures, available at CME Group, provide market participants with multiple products for cryptocurrency risk management or market expression. Expand your understanding of the cryptocurrency markets, products, and underlying reference rates. This course covers:

 

  • Bitcoin

  • Ether
  • Micro Bitcoin

  • Micro Ether
  • Options on Bitcoin futures

  • BTIC on Cryptocurrency futures

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

May Cocoa

May cocoa completed its first downside PriceCount objective early this month and spent time trading sideways in a consolidation trade. Now, the chart is threatening to break down again where new sustained lows would project a possible slide to the second count in the 7130 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

Abacus Momentum Trading System

System Description

Market Sector: Stock Indexes

Markets Traded:  ES ,

System Type: Day Trading

Risk per Tradevaries

Trading Rules: Not Disclosed

Suggested Capital: $19,500

System Description: 

An ES day trading system currently traded by the developer who has 15+ years’ experience. The system seeks to catch significant intra-day moves (long or short) on days when market movement is expected to be above average.

Short positions trade one contract but long positions trade two contracts to reflect a lower risk/reward profile. Correlation to the S&P500 index is very low and the system is designed to perform in both bull and bear markets. The system is robust with simple logic and averages 5-6 trades a month without the risk of overnight positions.

Recommended Cannon Trading Starting Capital

$20,000

COST

Developer Fee per contract: $145.00 Monthly Subscription

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 March 24th, 2025

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Trading Reports for Next Week

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

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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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