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Trading Glossary

Take a look at our list of the financial terms associated with trading and the markets. From beginners starting their trading journey to experts with decades of experience, all traders need to clearly understand a huge number of terms.

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Soybean

Soybeans are a “soft” commodity - referring to those that are grown and not mined. It is one of the world's most important legumes and is an essential source of protein. It is used extensively in cooking, both soybeans and soy oil, and is also used for animal feed in the form of soy meal.

Soybean is priced in USD per bushel. In July 2012, Soybeans reached an all-time high of $1790, while it reached a low of $208 in September 1959.

The US are the biggest producers of Soybeans, followed by Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Together they account for 85% of total production, and 94% of total exports. China is the biggest importer of soybeans.

The price of soybeans is affected by a number of factors, including growing conditions, the demand for biofuel and the strength of USD.

Soybean futures allow you to speculate on, or hedge against, changes in the price of soybeans. Futures rollover on the fourth Friday of February, April, June, October, and December.

Commodities

What is a Commodity?

commodity is a raw material asset such as oil, gas, gold, or wheat. Commodities can be categorised into either hard commodities or soft commodities. 

What are Soft Commodities?
Soft commodities typically refer to raw materials that are grown rather than mined such as coffee beans or sugar. 

What Are Hard Commodities?
Whereas hard commodities must be extracted such as natural gas or crude oil. 

A commodity is often exchangeable for other commodities of the same type and can be purchased through either the spot market using cash, or through derivatives like futures.

Commodity Tracking - DB Powershares

DBC, also known as the PowerShares DB Commodity Tracking ETF, tracks 14 commodities based on the futures curve. It aims to limit the effect of contango and maximise the effect of backwardation so that investors improve their returns. The commodities included in the ETF are gasoline, heating oil, Brent crude oil, WTI crude oil, gold, wheat, corn, soybeans, sugar, natural gas, zinc, copper, aluminium and silver.

Unlike other commodity ETFs, DBC rolls future contracts based on the shape of the future curve, rather than following a schedule. This allows the ETF to generate the best roll yield by minimising losses and maximising backwardation.

Cocoa

Cocoa is a “soft” commodity - referring to those that are grown rather than mined - and comes from the Theobroma tree, whose name translates as “God food” in Greek. Cocoa beans are primarily used to produce chocolate, cocoa powder and cocoa butter, the latter of which is widely-used in beauty products.

Cocoa is priced in USD per metric tonne. The highest price for cocoa on record is $4,361.58/MT, which was reached in July 1977. Cocoa traded at its lowest recorded level of $211/MT in July 1965.

West Africa accounts for around 70% of the global market supply, while Cote d'lvoire, Ghana and Indonesia are the top three cocoa producers. Latin America is a key market player as well.

As a “soft” commodity, cocoa prices are heavily affected by weather and climate news - adverse conditions could affect harvests.

Cocoa futures allow you to speculate on, or hedge against, changes in the price of cocoa. Futures rollover on the first Friday of February, April, June, August, and November.

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Commodities

What is a Commodity?

commodity is a raw material asset such as oil, gas, gold, or wheat. Commodities can be categorised into either hard commodities or soft commodities. 

What are Soft Commodities?
Soft commodities typically refer to raw materials that are grown rather than mined such as coffee beans or sugar. 

What Are Hard Commodities?
Whereas hard commodities must be extracted such as natural gas or crude oil. 

A commodity is often exchangeable for other commodities of the same type and can be purchased through either the spot market using cash, or through derivatives like futures.

Commodity Tracking - DB Powershares

DBC, also known as the PowerShares DB Commodity Tracking ETF, tracks 14 commodities based on the futures curve. It aims to limit the effect of contango and maximise the effect of backwardation so that investors improve their returns. The commodities included in the ETF are gasoline, heating oil, Brent crude oil, WTI crude oil, gold, wheat, corn, soybeans, sugar, natural gas, zinc, copper, aluminium and silver.

Unlike other commodity ETFs, DBC rolls future contracts based on the shape of the future curve, rather than following a schedule. This allows the ETF to generate the best roll yield by minimising losses and maximising backwardation.

Cocoa

Cocoa is a “soft” commodity - referring to those that are grown rather than mined - and comes from the Theobroma tree, whose name translates as “God food” in Greek. Cocoa beans are primarily used to produce chocolate, cocoa powder and cocoa butter, the latter of which is widely-used in beauty products.

Cocoa is priced in USD per metric tonne. The highest price for cocoa on record is $4,361.58/MT, which was reached in July 1977. Cocoa traded at its lowest recorded level of $211/MT in July 1965.

West Africa accounts for around 70% of the global market supply, while Cote d'lvoire, Ghana and Indonesia are the top three cocoa producers. Latin America is a key market player as well.

As a “soft” commodity, cocoa prices are heavily affected by weather and climate news - adverse conditions could affect harvests.

Cocoa futures allow you to speculate on, or hedge against, changes in the price of cocoa. Futures rollover on the first Friday of February, April, June, August, and November.

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Soybean

Soybeans are a “soft” commodity - referring to those that are grown and not mined. It is one of the world's most important legumes and is an essential source of protein. It is used extensively in cooking, both soybeans and soy oil, and is also used for animal feed in the form of soy meal.

Soybean is priced in USD per bushel. In July 2012, Soybeans reached an all-time high of $1790, while it reached a low of $208 in September 1959.

The US are the biggest producers of Soybeans, followed by Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Together they account for 85% of total production, and 94% of total exports. China is the biggest importer of soybeans.

The price of soybeans is affected by a number of factors, including growing conditions, the demand for biofuel and the strength of USD.

Soybean futures allow you to speculate on, or hedge against, changes in the price of soybeans. Futures rollover on the fourth Friday of February, April, June, October, and December.

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