Soft Commodities (MT4/MT5)

Introduction to Commodities Markets

Learn more about major commodity markets

Gold Markets
Throughout history, gold has always been seen as a valuable commodity, and for good reason. In addition to being an in-demand precious metal in many industries, gold is an ideal hedge for financial market risks, especially during periods of macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty. There is generally strong global market demand for gold making it one of the most actively traded commodities in the world. If you want to trade gold, there are several options open to you. You can directly invest in physical gold by purchasing gold bullion from bullion dealers or through gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that hold the commodity. Alternatively, you can trade gold through ETFs that track the movements of the commodity or purchase gold CFDs (contracts for difference) which track the asset’s underlying price. The latter is one of the most popular ways of trading gold and its quite easy to see why when you know how trading gold CFDs works.

Wheat Markets
Wheat is one of the most important food components and is cultivated globally. This grain has always piqued investors’ interests because it allows them to participate in the agricultural markets by trading wheat CFDs without holding actual tons of it. Wheat commodity trading can take place on several exchanges but there are two main that are listed in wheat futures: Chicago Board of Trade and NYSE Euronext. Wheat futures prices are quoted in USD and cents (USD) per bushel. The countries producing the biggest quantity of wheat are the European Union with 152,000 thousand metric tons annually, China with 133,600 and India with 106,210. These three countries are amongst the largest producers of wheat worldwide. The countries with the highest consumption of wheat are China with 131,000 thousand tons, India with 96,725 and Australia using the wheat for feeding their masses of livestock.

Coffee Markets
Coffee has become one οf the world’s most profitable commodities. By the 18th century, its cοnsumptiοn and popularity increased significantly in the US during the Civil war. Arabica and Robusta are two different coffee varieties. Arabica is considered a more flavourful bean, with less caffeine and is premium attracting a higher market price. Robusta contains more caffeine and has a bitter taste. Trend followers like to trade Robusta due to its volatility, and traders who prefer more stability choose Arabica. The price of coffee can be affected by factors such as changing weather conditions, distribution costs, geopolitics, global health issues and the strength of the US dollar. Also, the price of coffee is moved by factors that relate to supply and demand. Major coffee chains in China increased the price of beverages amid rising costs and inflation. Luckin Coffee, Starbucks and Tim Hortons raised prices by between 1 yuan ($0.16) and 3 yuan ($0.47) according to mobile apps and online menus. Starbucks operates more than 5,500 stores in China and after its first-quarter reporting in February 2022, cautioned that rising inflation and staff shortages continued to present a challenging trading environment globally.

Oil Markets
Crude oil is a liquid in the Earth, and it is made of hydrocarbons, organic compounds, and tiny amounts of metal. There are many types of crude produced around the world, and the quality of each is reflected in the value. One of its quality characteristics is the sulfur content, which can be defined as sweet or sour, and density ranges from heavy to light. If crudes are light and sweet, there are more expensive as opposed to energy products such as diesel and gasoline. There is a high demand for these grades since they can be processed with refineries requiring less energy. Many types of crude oil differ in their consistency and density, depending on how and where it is extracted. There are over 160 types of crude oil traded on the market, but Brent Crude and WTI serve the most as the oil benchmarks in the global markets. The WTI oil is taken from Wells in the United States and sent to Oklahoma by pipeline. It is mostly referred to as US crude, and it has expensive shipping costs when there is demand around the world. The WTI oil is very sweet and light, making it ideal for gasoline refining. WTI is a higher quality crude than Brent, and it is always priced at a premium. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a cartel of 14 major oil-producing nations seeking to manage the supply of the commodity to control its prices. When there is a meeting on whether to boost or cut production, it can impact current and future prices directly, and oil watchers globally closely follow the announcements. Another important factor affecting the prices is the major crude reports from the US inventory number as higher inventories will mean less demand from the international markets and will pressure the prices lower. Political factors or wars in oil-producing nations are a major issue in the oil markets and natural disasters such as hurricanes that affect major oil infrastructures.

What Are the Most Traded Commodities?

The most traded Commodities are those which have an established market of buyers and sellers. This translates to high levels of liquidity and lower trading costs - two of the main attractions when trading Commodities CFDs.

Gold: Of the precious metals, gold continues to lead the way. Throughout history, gold has been a valuable commodity. The gold standard was in operation for almost a century and central banks continue to hold gold reserves. It is easily transferable for cash and often used as part of a hedging trading strategy as it often trades opposite to the United States dollar (USD).

Other Metals: Silver, platinum and palladium are among the most traded commodities. As they are considered a safe-haven investment, there is a wide range of Trading Strategies Using Precious Metals.

Crude Oil: The widespread use of oil makes it one of the most in-demand commodities. Petrol and diesel are examples of refined oil which highlights its importance in all forms of transportation. Its value as a source of energy is the reason why oil prices are heavily scrutinised.

How to Trade Commodities?
There are several ways to trade commodities such as precious metals and oil. As they are a physical product, investors have the option of purchasing precious metals such as gold, silver and palladium. One of the main hurdles of doing so is the cost associated with storing such a valuable product. This is one of the reasons why commodity futures trading emerged. Through exchange-traded funds (ETFs), you are able to enter into an agreement to buy or sell shares of an underlying ETF at an agreed price prior to a specified date. Many large corporations use futures markets to hedge against market volatility. We offer's CFD trading in commodities where you do not own the underlying asset and enter into a contract which, unlike futures contracts, do not have a specified end date. Trading Gold CFDs allows you to hedge against high risk market conditions using your margin trading account. Similarly, gold is also traded against major currencies in Forex Trading