Since metals are used in everything from jewellery to computers or cars to industrial components, there is never a shortage of demand.
The metal trading marketplace encompasses both precious metals and industrial metals. The most commonly traded metals are gold, silver, and copper, also known as the ‘Big Three’. Gold plays a unique role in the financial marketplace since it is used as a safe haven where investors can hedge funds against inflation, as a backing device for currencies, and has a range of industrial and retail applications. Copper is known as a ‘base metal’, which denotes that it is not a precious metal. However, due to its many industrial applications, copper is a highly valuable commodity. Silver is the least traded of the Big Three, but still holds a wide range of opportunities for investors.
Unlike trading in equities, where an investor buys and sells stocks in a given company, metals are classed as commodities, which means that an investor is putting his money behind an actual product. Where stockholders make money depending on whether the company they have invested in is profitable or not, commodities traders generally make profits depending on whether or not the price of the chosen commodity rises or falls, and what trades the investor has made based on that information.
To be successful in the metals market, investors need to be aware of a range of factors that can impact the overall prices of these commodities.
The metals marketplace can be highly volatile both for industrial metals and precious metals. This volatility can result in large profits, but also brings with it a huge amount of risk. For this reason, we recommend that investors choose a reliable, professional and reputable broker to represent them in the marketplace.
Although one can find thousands of brokers via the world wide web, it is best to exercise a large amount of caution when choosing a broker. Check that your chosen broker has a good past history of profitable trades, that their reviews are favourable, and that they are properly insured and registered with the appropriate regulatory authorities. Choose your broker wisely and you will be rewarded.
Whether you want to use metals trading as a long term means to hedge funds against inflation or you are interested in making short term profits from day trades, industrial and precious metals can be a lucrative investment. The first step in trading metal is to decide which area you wish to trade in.
Industrial metals – also called base metals – are commonly traded via futures and options. So investors will commonly be speculating on price fluctuations in short term day trades. Precious metals offer more versatility, as investors can choose long term safe haven investments or opt for day trading in futures and options. Metal markets include COMEX and NYMEX, the London Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Nowadays, there are various ways to trade in precious metals. Two of the most popular ones online include Metal CFDs and Options.
You can trade both CFD metals and Options with EasyMarkets.
Leveraging is a commonly used trading practice. In theory, the practice is simple: traders acquire debt in order to increase their purchasing capabilities. Typically, an investor will purchase stocks or futures using their own money. However, with leveraging, an investor can borrow money from either a broker or a financial institution to increase their buying power. If X is selling at 150 US dollars and you only have 50 US dollars, you can borrow – or leverage – another 100 US dollars to make the purchase. If you can then sell for a profit, you will have made a successful leveraged trade. If not, then you will lose your investment and still owe the leveraged amount. Use leveraging with caution.
Is trading metals profitable? There are many advantages in both the precious metals market and the base metals market. Metal trading is a great way to diversify a large portfolio. You can spread your investments across a wide range of metals and thus minimise your overall risk.
Metals can be used as both a day trading vehicle and as a means to safeguard funds against inflation, so there can be both long term and short term profits. In terms of precious metals, investors can also buy the physical properties themselves, rather than speculate on price fluctuations. Base metals are always in high demand, so this marketplace can indeed be profitable but is also highly volatile.
If you are now interested in entering the metal trading marketplace, we would like to share with you some of our top tips. First, make sure you choose a good broker. An experienced broker can make sure your trades anticipate market fluctuations and will do most of the research and analysis for you.
Second, it makes sense to diversify heavily in metals trading. Since metals give investors the opportunity to make many different investment types, this is an excellent way to avoid risk. Third, make sure you keep a close watch on both industry developments and geopolitical events, as these can have dramatic impacts on the price of precious and base metals in the marketplace.
Choosing a trading style will both increase your likelihood of profits and minimise stress. People who are more comfortable with long term and slower profits should not adopt a fast-paced, risk-laden day trading style, for example.
What style you choose depends on your own financial goals and how much risk you are comfortable with being exposed to. Are you looking to hedge funds against inflation for your retirement? Or do you want to make profits now at the risk of absorbing losses? By explaining your trading goals to an experienced broker, you will be able to find the best style for you. It may be that you have a diversified portfolio and adopt a mixture of styles.
By using analytical trading strategies, brokers and investors can anticipate market movements and price fluctuations. This helps to safeguard their investments against risk and maximise the chances of making big profits. There are a variety of strategies that experienced traders use to keep one step ahead of the metal market. Evaluating supply and demand pressures is known as ‘fundamental analysis’. Examining market patterns is known as ‘technical analysis’. Researching volume is known as ‘sentiment analysis’. Another strategy is to evaluate market trends by using what is called ‘moving averages’. These methods will increase an investor’s chances of predicting price fluctuations in the metal market. You can use the strategies yourself or simply trust your broker’s judgment.
Minimising your exposure to risk is the key to playing the market successfully, no matter what type of commodity or equity you are trading in. Stop orders and limit orders are tools that investors use to avoid heavy losses. When you instruct your broker to make a stop order or a limit order, you are telling them that you do not want the market price of a stock. What you want is for your order to be filled when a stock hits a price you determine. Stop orders specify that a stock is traded when the price hits a less than favourable amount. A limit order is activated when a stock hits a more favourable price.
Any type of investment involves risk. Risk is inherent in every aspect of the stock market, it is unavoidable. However, investors can minimise risk simply by being aware of factors that move the particular markets they are investing in.
In the case of the metals market, investors must keep a close eye on political events that impact supply and demand, both in a global sense and in the domestic politics of producing nations, such as Australia. Geopolitical events can have a huge impact on the price of precious metals. Changes in business conditions can severely affect the price of metals, especially base metals. Currency fluctuations can also send base and precious metal prices soaring in either direction.
Overall, trading in precious or base metals provides a range of lucrative opportunities for smart investors. As we have said, the opportunities to diversify your portfolio in the metal market means that you can hedge against risk and adopt both long and short term positions. The highly volatile nature of the metal markets makes it attractive for investors as there are large profits to be made. However, in order to maintain liquidity, investors must keep a vigilant watch over industrial and business conditions as well as overall marketplace sentiment, major geopolitical changes and political events in metal producing companies. Simply make sure that you have a good broker and keep yourself well informed.
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