Futures trading involves the purchase or sale of a contract to buy a specific quantity of a commodity or security by an agreed-upon date. Traders can buy or sell futures contracts for a range of products including oil, natural gas, coffee, wheat and sugar.

A trader might use a  OnlineFuturesContracts strategy in conjunction with other strategies such as technical analysis or a stop-loss order to manage risk and minimize losses. They could also use a long futures position to benefit from a rising market, while shorting a futures contract in the event of a downturn.

The risk of futures trading is high because the price of an underlying commodity or security changes frequently and can go against you. For example, a futures contract for a barrel of crude oil can go up or down in value depending on the market’s perception of the underlying commodity.

Tips for Successful Futures Trading: A Beginner’s Guide

Despite these risks, some investors find futures to be an excellent way to hedge their portfolio or minimize losses when prices move against them. However, as with any speculative investment, it’s important to take some time to learn about the market before you start trading and to develop a plan that addresses entry and exit points, risk management rules and other strategies.

Some brokers offer a paper trading account where you can practice your trading strategies and test out your ideas using “paper money.” This is an excellent option for newcomers to the market and may help you get a feel for how the markets, leverage and commissions interact with your portfolio.