Starting Out in Futures Trading

The Essential Beginner’s Guide to Understanding and Trading Futures Markets

Mark Powers, former editor of The Journal of Futures Markets and a leading authority on derivatives, delivers a straightforward, well-organized introduction to the world of futures trading. Starting Out in Futures Trading is designed for those who are new to the futures markets and want to build a strong foundation in both the mechanics and strategies involved.

From contract specifications and margin requirements to hedging, speculation, and technical analysis, Powers explains it all in plain English. You’ll learn how futures differ from other assets, how risk is managed, and how futures can fit into your broader trading or investing goals.

This is not a hype-filled manual, but a solid, realistic roadmap for approaching futures markets with confidence and caution.

✅ What You’ll Learn:

• What futures contracts are and how they work
• The structure of futures markets and key players involved
• How leverage, margin, and mark-to-market accounting operate
• The difference between hedging vs. speculation
• Basic technical tools and order types used in futures trading
• Realistic risk management techniques for new traders

💡 Key Benefits:

• Learn from a respected industry veteran with decades of futures experience
• Demystifies complex market mechanics for beginners
• Offers practical guidance without hype or unrealistic expectations
• Helps you develop the mindset and strategy needed for long-term success
• Great foundation before advancing to more technical or strategy-heavy books

👤 Who This Book Is For:

• Complete beginners in futures or derivatives
• Stock and forex traders exploring futures as a new asset class
• Investors seeking hedging techniques for commodities or financial futures
• Students of finance and economics
• Anyone wanting to trade futures with confidence and control

📚 Table of Contents:

1. What Are Futures Contracts?
2. The Structure of Futures Markets
3. Exchanges, Clearinghouses, and Brokers
4. Margin Requirements and Risk
5. Hedging and Speculation Explained
6. Trading Orders and Position Management
7. Introduction to Technical Analysis for Futures
8. Developing Your Trading Plan
9. Mistakes to Avoid
10. Becoming a Confident Futures Trader