Profiting With Gas And Oil Futures?

Answer 1

New information constantly flows into the futures markets for oil and natural gas. The nature of the information influences the relative prices of a barrel of oil or one million BTUs (MMBtu) of natural gas. Sometimes changes in these prices can be both sudden and severe. When news of the OPEC oil embargo in 1973 hit the oil futures market, the price of a barrel of oil rocketed upward to over $40 for the first time. Later in 1979 and 1980 the price of a barrel of oil went over $70.

Speculators seeking to make a profit in the oil and natural gas futures markets need a strong stomach and a hard head. This is not an occupation for the weak-willed. A oil and gas futures trader needs to be aware of a multiplicity of factors, including how much he is leveraged compared to other traders. Futures traders borrow money from futures exchanges to magnify the effects of even small moves in oil and gas prices. Using leverage to take advantage of volatility is often the only way a trader can make enough profits to cover his costs.

Turning a profit in the rough and violent oil and natural gas futures markets is not just about making money. The speculator plays a vital role by purchasing and selling oil and gas futures contracts. The oil companies sell barrels of raw crude oil to oil speculators at a predetermined price. The speculator is paid to assume the risk that the price of oil will be lower or higher than the price the oil was sold for. The speculator then resells the oil to a refinery company. Again, the price the oil company is paid does not change, but the price of the oil while it is held by the speculator changes considerably.

Trading oil and gas futures contracts is all about managing risk. Speculators are paid to assume risks on behalf of others. Most speculators probably have never seen a barrel of oil in their lives. Consumers, executives and workers all benefit from the oil and gas futures markets.