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Futures
Mr. Powell and the Punch Bowl

Mr. Powell and the Punch Bowl

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will answer a lot of questions in the Senate this week. But they all come down to one issue: Will he take away the punch bowl, or fill it up? If you don't know the lingo, we're talking about interest rates. The old saying is that...

Metals on the Move as Dollar Takes a Hit

Metals on the Move as Dollar Takes a Hit

Metals came back from the long weekend with a bang as money poured into gold and copper. Globex's gold futures (@GC) traded almost 333,000 contracts yesterday, the busiest session since October 11. Prices also advanced 1.7 percent, their biggest gain of the...

WTI Crude Oil: Futures Contract of the Week

WTI Crude Oil: Futures Contract of the Week

When people think about "commodities," few items spring to mind faster than crude oil. Let's consider a major way to trade it: Nymex WTI crude oil futures. These contracts track the oil most commonly produced in the U.S. and fluctuate with global energy markets....

S&P 500 E-Minis: The Biggest Show in Town

S&P 500 E-Minis: The Biggest Show in Town

You've probably heard of about "stock market futures," but do you really know what they are? Today let's start by looking at the most popular item in the market: CME's S&P 500 E-minis. These contracts track the most widely followed stock benchmark in the world....

Guess What Chart Just Had a ‘Golden Cross’

Guess What Chart Just Had a ‘Golden Cross’

A potentially bullish signal has appeared in gold as the market anticipates dovish policy from the Federal Reserve. The 50-day moving average on gold futures (@GC) rose through the 200-day moving average this week. That pattern, ironically known as a "golden cross,"...

Dollar Slides with Doves Ruling the Roost at the Fed

Dollar Slides with Doves Ruling the Roost at the Fed

Hawks at the Federal Reserve keep morphing into doves, hammering the greenback. Several comments from the central bank yesterday expressed a cautious view of interest rates. It started with Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic, who warned that economic fears have...

Is This Precious Metal Too Cheap?

Is This Precious Metal Too Cheap?

Political uncertainty and economic jitters have lifted precious metals recently. But which has more upside potential? Silver futures (@SI) are trading near their cheapest ratio to gold futures (@GC) in over 16 years. History may suggest their valuation gap will narrow...

Market Jitters Are Lifting Gold Miners

Market Jitters Are Lifting Gold Miners

Gold miners are the only winners in this market as mounting worries drive investors to the ultimate safety play. The Dow Jones US Gold Miner Index ($DJUSPM) has gained 5 percent in the last month. That makes the best performer -- and only real gainer -- of more than...

A Dreaded Currency Is on the Rise

A Dreaded Currency Is on the Rise

The Japanese yen, everyone's dreaded safe-haven, is on the rise. Futures on the currency (@JY) rose 0.85 percent, their biggest daily gain since May. There's also signs of a potential upward reversal after a breakout through the 50-day moving average. (Today's move...