Rowan Relton | All About Grain Markets
The grain market is a commodity market where
farmers sell what they grow, says Rowan Relton – commodity trader. This market
depends on the demand and supply of commodities, which can change based on
customer needs, temperature, precipitation and diseases. Due to these changes,
the price for commodities are being affected and this brings about price
fluctuation to be regulated.
Grain market trading or marketing occurs widely
through futures contracts. Here, Rowan Relton provides everything you need to
know about grain markets and what you stand to gain when you invest in
it.
Grain Future Contracts
A grain futures contract is a legal document
that sets the amount at which grain will be delivered in future at an agreed
time and place.
So, according to Rowan Relton, anyone that wants to invest in grain futures
contracts needs to know the risk involved. In this investment, one has to use
risk capital to avoid losing all your investment.
Speculators and hedgers are the two main participants
in the future market. Speculators are not interested in the actual commodity
and they accept risk with the hope of making profits. Though they don't deal
with physical grain, they buy and sell futures contracts.
Hedgers use futures contracts to manage risk in
the market and are also able to cope with some risks which are related to the
availability and price of a commodity.
Benefits of Futures Contracts
"There are many reasons why a future
contract is a good investment vehicle," Rowan Relton says. This include:
1. High liquidity:
Most of the futures contracts offer high liquidity in most
commonly traded commodities. This gives room for a trader to buy and sell when
they want to. Which means they can exit and enter the market at any time.
2. Protection from price fluctuation:
Many industries with a high level of price fluctuations including
farmers use future contracts as protection against the risk of a drop in the
price of crops. For example, when a farmer is not sure of the price of a crop
at harvest time, he or she can sell the crop at a fixed price before
harvesting. The harvest can be agreed to be delivered at a future date.
3. Opens market to investors:
Future contracts gives investors a chance to participate in the
market they want, especially the risk-tolerance investors.
4. Easy pricing:
Future contracts pricing is very easy to understand.
Buying Future Contracts
When you buy a futures contract, it means you
agreed to buy a set of a commodity on a particular date at a fixed price,
holding the contract till expiration. You have exposure to a commodity market
when you buy a futures contract. So when the market goes high, you gain and
when it goes low you lose.
Selling Future Contracts
It means you agreed to sell a set of a commodity
on a set date and price. You need to set a future position if you want to
deliver a physical crop to the market.
Benefits of Grain Contracts
Grain is a real commodity, therefore the grain
market has several unique qualities. Grain has a lower margin when compared to
other complexes such as the energies, which makes the participation of
speculators easy. Grains fundamentals are straightforward, just like most
tangible commodities, the price is determined by demand and supply and weather
factors as well.
Conclusion
Rowan Relton believes having a full understanding of how the grain market
works should be the major priority of anyone who wants to go into the grain
market.
Grain markets go with demand and supply and
weather creates an important impact on the market. So all these factors should
be put into consideration if you want to be profitable.
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