One might say that there has to be some kind of mystical knowledge being used, considering the price for the commodity doesn’t yet exist. Commodities are any physical, tangible goods, such as crops like corn or wheat, to oil, gold, and currency, just to name a few. The futures market has nothing to do with the use of a crystal ball, though there are many traders who wish they had one. A futures contract is a standardized contract to buy or sell a specified commodity of standardized quality at a certain date in the future, at a market determined price (the futures price). The contracts are traded on a futures exchange. Today, with online futures trading, we have instantaneous results which provide greater benefits for the trader. This of course results in worldwide access. Before we address possible methods, we must first recognize the players in this high stakes game…

Today, with online futures trading, we have instantaneous results which provide greater benefits for the trader. This of course results in worldwide access. Before we address possible methods, we must first recognize the players in this high stakes game of commodities. Since most individual traders are speculators, here is a list of some of the advantages and disadvantages of the futures market over other investment possibilities. (If you are not knowledgeable about futures, and would like to know more about the futures market in general, please refer to my article: Futures Trading…Know The Market Before The Experts .) 1. The possibilities exist that a person can make more money faster in the futures market, because� the speed of prices tends to change faster than stocks. Conversely, bad judgment can cause one to suffer greater losses than traditional investments. 2. Futures are highly leveraged investments. The trader only puts up about 15-20%…

If you own a business that sells to other businesses, then you already know how important it is to keep the cash flowing.� Invoice factoring is the process of selling your accounts receivable for immediate cash allowing the business to have funds within one day of generating the invoice, rather than waiting 30 to 75 days to get paid.� Invoice factoring rates tend to be all over the place, depending on which factor you select to do business with.� The factoring rate is the discount fee the factoring company charges to advance these funds to you.� The factor then waits for payment from your customer.� Most factors charge anywhere from 1% to 5% of the invoice total to provide these invoice advances. Factoring rates can be structured in a variety of ways but what’s most typical is in a daily, 10 day, 15 day, or 30 day segment as a…

Crystal Ball, Anyone? One might say that there has to be some kind of mystical knowledge being used, considering the price for the commodity doesn’t yet exist. Commodities are any physical, tangible goods, such as crops like corn or wheat, to oil, gold, and currency, just to name a few. The futures market has nothing to do with the use of a crystal ball, though there are many traders who wish they had one. A futures contract is a standardized contract to buy or sell a specified commodity of standardized quality at a certain date in the future, at a market determined price (the futures price). The contracts are traded on a futures exchange. A futures contract gives the holder the obligation to make or take delivery under the terms of the contract, whereas an option grants the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to establish a position previously…