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; and 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!
Introduction.Part I: Understanding the Financial Markets.Chapter 1: The Ins and Outs of Trading Futures and Options.Chapter 2: Where Money Comes From.Chapter 3: The Futures Markets.Chapter 4: Understanding the Not-So-Hair-Raising Truth about Options.Chapter 5: Yeah Baby! Basic Stock Option Strategies.Part II: Analyzing the Markets.Chapter 6: Understanding the Fundamentals of the Economy.Chapter 7: Getting Technical Without Getting Tense.Chapter 8: Speculating Strategies That Use Advanced Technical Analysis.Chapter 9: Trading with Feeling Now!Part III: Financial Futures.Chapter 10: Wagging the Dog: Interest-Rate Futures.Chapter 11: Rocking and Rolling: Speculating with Currencies.Chapter 12: Stocking Up on Indexes.Part IV: Commodity Futures.Chapter 13: Getting Slick and Slimy: Understanding Energy Futures.Chapter 14: Getting Metallic without Getting Heavy.Chapter 15: Getting to the Meat of the Markets: Livestock and More.Chapter 16: The Bumpy Truth about Agricultural Markets.Part V: The Trading Plan.Chapter 17: Trading with a Plan Today So You Can Do It Again Tomorrow.Chapter 18: Looking for Balance Between the Sheets.Chapter 19: Developing Strategies Now to Avoid Pain Later.Chapter 20: Executing Successful Trades.Part VI: The Part of Tens.Chapter 21: Ten Killer Rules to Keep You Sane and Solvent.Chapter 22: More Than Ten Additional Resources.Index.