The stock market is up since the start of 2017, but the metals sector is up even more. Heightened investor uncertainty about the health of the stock market uptrend and concerns about inflation are two signals that precious and industrial metals markets might be flashing. Gold is traditionally thought of as a hedge against a […]

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As the sun slides below the horizon and most of the world starts to wind down, a wide variety of nocturnal creatures begin to emerge from their daytime shelters and ready themselves for a night of activity. In the desert it’s the owl, the coyote, and the jackrabbit. In the jungle you’ll find the bat, […]

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As an investor, which of the following best sums up your views on capital? I have more capital than I need, so efficient use of it isn’t important It doesn’t grow on trees, so I like to be smart about how I use my capital I’d like to be capital-efficient, but I’m not always sure how to do it B and C, but […]

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Whether the question is when to plan your family picnic or how to trade corn futures, the answer typically distills into three words: Check the weather. Weather affects nearly everyone and everything, especially the agricultural commodities like corn, soybeans and wheat (plus, crude oil and other energy markets, too; more on that later). Whither the […]

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When a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil … you know how that story goes. But really? Can that butterfly set off a tornado in a faraway place? It’ll remain one of life’s mysteries, but for you, there’s a deeper meaning. It may not be a butterfly that creates market volatility. But it might be […]

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We all have to eat. That’s not exactly a portfolio strategy, but it’s a good place to start when contemplating investing opportunities in American agriculture. The ongoing harvest season in the major grain-producing states of the U.S. Midwest offers just the latest reminder of agriculture’s year-round, 24/7 role—and also of ways for investors to get […]

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The top-ranked NBA player likely won’t remain at the top of the basketball world forever. At some point, age will take over and his dominance on the court will become legend. But until then, he’ll keep fighting to maintain his top-ranking status. There’s a corollary here to the U.S. dollar, which has been the world’s […]

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Key Takeaways Futures contracts have standardized delivery terms Futures market participants include professionals looking to mitigate risk and speculators looking to profit from price movement Buying or selling a futures contract requires the posting of margin sufficient to cover potential losses At first glance, the futures markets may appear arcane, perilous, suited only for those […]

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Key Takeaways Futures contracts specifications detail the stake in an underlying commodity Other contracts specs include tick size, multipliers, and more How many bushels or barrels? We look at a few specific commodity examples Are you an experienced stock trader looking to expand your trading prowess? If so, you may be interested in the futures […]

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Key Takeaways Margin on futures provides leverage, which provides extra exposure A certain amount of money must always be maintained on deposit with a futures broker, called the maintenance margin When losses exceed maintenance margin, more money must be deposited or the position may be closed or liquidated The lever is one of those ‘5 Simple […]

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