Earn consistent profits trading commodities, even if you're a newcomer to the commodities markets! Carley Garner's A Trader’s First Book on Commodities, Second Edition is today's most practical and realistic introduction to successful commodities trading. More than any other primer, it recognizes that the most important trading decisions are made long before the first trade is executed. Drawing on years of dealing with retail traders from all walks of life, experience levels, and amounts of risk capital, Garner answers the most pressing questions newcomers ask -- and the questions they haven't realized they need to ask. This extensively updated Second Edition reflects major changes in the market over the past three years, including new trading challenges, platforms, tools, data resources, and risks. Garner presents a hard-eyed look at the collapses of MF Global and PFGBEST, their failure to honor the sanctity of “Customer Segregated Funds” accounts, the implications for investors, and techniques for mitigating these new risks. She has added new charts and example trades throughout; new coverage of commodity impacts arising from recent events in Europe; important information about new technological improvements and competitive intraday position margin standards; and much more.
I had no idea what commodities were when I picked up this book to read. I liked learning a little of the history of futures, I liked reading about the commodities like sugar, coffee, metals. I like that she talk about brokers, the math involved, I enjoyed reading the book
Much of this one is either pointless or dated. While there may still be viable information included, it is not presented well either initially or after the editing process. The first half of this book could be delivered in a few pages by someone with better editing skills.
Why I wrote "A Trader's First Book on Commodities" ~ Carley Garner
Years of dealing with retail traders from all walks of life, experience levels, and amounts of risk capital, prompted me to compile the answers to the most pressing questions asked by commodity newcomers into a single source. As an industry insider, I feel as though I have developed a keen understanding of the risks and rewards of commodity trading and the goal of "A Trader's First Book in Commodities" was to deliver a candid, yet optimistic and entertaining account of the realities involved.
As someone who sells to the professional commodities trading communities I expected the book to aimed more at someone like a graduate who's breaking into the market with a trading house. Unfortunately it was actually aimed at retail traders and therefore, rather than discussing actual commodities and how they are traded, the book spent half it's time discussing different types of brokers and trading systems.
As I'm clearly the wrong target audience it's hard to say if he book would be of any use or not for other readers. But for me, it was a painful read and not much use.
A good book for the beginner new to commodities and trading. Most of the information in here I was already aware of from trading stocks and options, but it still added a few insights for me regarding differences with the futures markets. Well written, and the best book I've found for a newbie, but not really pertinent for an intermediate/advanced trader. Nevertheless, well written, clear, and methodical.
OK, if you intend to become an active commodities trader, this is a necessary book for you to read. BUT . . . if you only want to decipher commodities pricing (that's me!) then this is not the book for you. I'm still panting for a simple chart or description that teaches me how to understand feeder cattle or corn pricing or beans quotes that I see on farm channel TV. Are these units per pound? per ton? per bushel? per animal? WHAT? Still looking to learn.
I just read through this ( not read completely ) I might as well be a guide to playing Texas hold'em. Speculation add nothing to the acutal economy. The best part is ' You can trade futures in an IRA ' < Carley doesn't advocate that put feels obliged to mention it ! >