Getting Started in Commodities

Foreword

Opportunities to make money in the commodities markets have never been better. Not only have the costs of trading come down, but technology has made the process a lot faster and more efficient. It's easier than ever for individuals to make profits and develop an income stream trading commodities. Meanwhile, the number of products has grown exponentially; countless opportunities exist today that simply weren't available a few years ago.

Yet, while the commodities markets offer a plethora of trading opportunities, entering the futures arena might seem daunting for the inexperienced trader. I am constantly amazed by all of the questions and misconceptions I've heard about commodity trading. How much capital do I need? How does it all work? Why should I even bother? What kind of commodities can I trade? Isn't it too complex and risky for the average investor? If I don't know what I'm doing, will I wake up one morning to find 100,000 bushels of corn in my front yard?

This is the beauty of the book you are about to read. In Getting Started in Commodities, George Fontanills demystifies commodities trading. The truth is that commodities are an important element of diversification that most investors don't know enough about. Since very little correlation exists between commodities prices and other financial markets, adding commodities to your portfolio—especially if you already own stocks or bonds outright or through mutual funds—can create some necessary diversification and actually ...