The days of buying and holding stocks and mutual funds for years are gone; nowadays, futures and option markets offer some of the best opportunities to make money trading in volatile times. But like all investments, high risk is involved, and in order to become a successful trader you must be prepared to work as a geopolitical analyst, a money manager, and an expert in all types of commodity markets. Futures & Options For Dummies will show you how trading is done and how to survive and succeed in these ever-changing markets. Filled with nuts-and-bolts advice, you’ll soon discover how to manage the risks involved and reap the rewards of futures and options trading. This straightforward guide gives you the tools you need to understand: Ins and outs of trading futures and options How to analyze the markets and develop strategies Interest-rate futures and speculating with currencies How to stock up on indexes The direction of commodity futures Organizing your financial data and calculating your worth Developing strategies now to avoid pain later The execution of successful trades Trading takes an iron-cast stomach and nerves of steel to perform, and this book features ways to keep yourself sane and secure. It also lists resourceful Web sites, commodity exchanges, books, newsletters, and magazines to assist in your trading endeavors. From technical analysis to finding a broker, Futures & Options For Dummies has all the information you need to capitalize on these markets!

Increased marketplace volatility and the expanding size of capital markets have led to an explosion of interest in options on futures. What makes these instruments so attractive is that they allow traders to profit from movements in the markets using little up-front capital and plenty of leverage. At the same time, they provide an excellent hedge against the risks associated with capital market investments. This book demystifies these notoriously difficult-to-understand instruments and provides state-of-the-art strategies and tools for making the most of options on futures. John F. Summa (New Haven, CT) is a CTA and cofounder of OptionsNerd.com, an online service providing market commentary, trading advisories, and assistance with trading system development. Jonathan Lubow (Randolph, NJ) is cofounder and Vice President of Trader's Edge, a futures and options brokerage.

Completely updated, this practical guide has the information investors need to keep up in the complex, fast-paced, and highly profitable world of options and futures, where everything is in play-from oil to diamonds, poultry to vaccines, franchises to coffee. Provides cutting edge information on energy futures and options Tools for creating flexible strategies that can move with the times New information on the solid standbys like livestock, precious metals, and equities Keyed to the new realities of the global economy, making this book vital for investors at all levels Highly respected expert author

The same electronic trading forces that are changing the face of stock trading, are moving into the futures and options market, where traders can trade the entire stock market rather than just one stock at a time. Some of the richest opportunities to trade the stock market can be found at the futures and options exchanges. This work aims to teach the novice trader everything necessary to get started in electronically day trading the equity index markets.

Navigate options markets and bring in the profits Thinking about trading options, but not sure where to start? This new edition of Trading Options For Dummies starts you at the beginning, explaining the common types of options available for trading and helps you choose the right ones for your investing needs. You'll find out how to weigh option costs and benefits, combine options to reduce risk, build a strategy that allows you to gain no matter the market conditions, broaden your retirement portfolio with index, equity, and ETF options, and so much more. Options are contracts giving the purchaser the right to buy or sell a security, such as stocks, at a fixed price within a specific period of time. Because options cost less than stock, they are a versatile trading instrument, while providing a high leverage approach to trading that can limit the overall risk of a trade or provide additional income. If you're an investor with some general knowledge of trading but want a better understanding of risk factors, new techniques, and an overall improved profit outcome, Trading Options For Dummies is for you. Helps you determine and manage your risk, guard your assets using options, protect your rights, and satisfy your contract obligations Provides expert insight on combining options to limit your position risk Offers step-by-step instruction on ways to capitalize on sideways movements Covers what you need to know about options contract specifications and mechanics Trading options can be a great way to manage your risk, and this hands-on, friendly guide gives you the trusted and expert help you need to succeed.

Updated and revised to reflect the most current information, this introduction to futures and options markets is ideal for those with a limited background in mathematics. Based on Hull's Options, Futures and Other Derivatives, one of the best-selling books on Wall Street, this book presents an accessible overview of the topic without the use of calculus. Packed with numerical samples and accounts of real-life situations, the Fifth Edition effectively guides readers through the material while providing them with a host of tangible examples. For professionals with a career in futures and options markets, financial engineering and/or risk management.

Well-written, comprehensive guide to all the essentials of trading in options on futures contracts. Includes thorough discussion of futures options strategies, criteria for evaluating option premiums, including historical and implied volatility, and sensitivity measures (delta, gamma, vega, theta). The best book for those interested in learning about futures options.