Advisories & Articles

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Agricultural Customer Resources

Many agricultural producers use the futures and options markets to hedge against falling prices and maximize their bottom lines. Whether you’re new to using futures and options as risk management tools or an old hand, here are a number of checklists, articles and resources that can help you learn more about the markets, risk management planning, and avoiding problems or bad actors. Learn more about protections for agricultural customers.

 

Spot and Avoid Fraud
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Criminals committing fraud are trying to recruit people to receive and transfer money from their digital wallets, trading, or other personal accounts. Moving money for illegal purposes, even unknowingly, is against the law and participants could face serious consequences.
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Investor Resilience – World Investor Week 2022: Investor Bulletin For World Investor Week 2022, investors, investment professionals, teachers, parents, researchers, and others are encouraged to make a special effort to promote investor resilience and sustainable finance. Here are five tips to incre
Forex
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The Commodity Futures Trading Commission advises the public to thoroughly research over-the-counter foreign exchange (“forex”) dealers before making initial deposits or handing over sensitive personal information.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
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In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the CFTC reminds the public that fraud criminals often target the life savings of older adults. Here are three recent frauds targeting seniors, and steps you can take to protect yourself or others.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
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Fraudsters are using dating apps, social media, and messaging app “wrong numbers” to lure victims into trading scams. Read how they do it and get 10 tips to protect yourself and your money.
Bitcoin and Digital Currencies
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A bitcoin futures exchange-traded fund (ETF) issues publicly traded securities that offer exposure to the price movements of bitcoin futures contracts.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
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The CFTC, SEC, National Futures Association, FINRA, and the North American Securities Administrators Association encourage professionals, teachers, and others to promote these five investor education topics during global recognition week.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
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If you have fallen victim to a fraud, offers to recover your lost funds can turn out to be just another scam. Here are the warning signs you should look for and tips to help you avoid recovery frauds.
Bitcoin and Digital Currencies
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The CFTC and SEC urge investors considering a fund with exposure to the Bitcoin futures market to weigh carefully the potential risks and benefits of the investment.
Futures Market Basics
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Speculative trading is always risky, but mixing it with unfamiliar markets, leverage, and advice from anonymous individuals online could be a recipe for disaster. Here are seven things to consider before placing any trade that involves commodity futures or physical commodities like precious metals.
Precious Metals
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Some unregistered gold and silver dealers are advising investors to use relaxed retirement plan distribution rules in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to buy precious metals. But customers should talk to qualified retirement, tax, or legal advisors first.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
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Have you fallen victim to a fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic? These steps can help protect you from further theft, inform you about how to lodge a fraud complaint, and offer guidance to avoid fraud in the future.
Futures Market Basics
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Trading vehicles that use futures contracts or other commodity interests may be organized as exchange-traded products or mutual funds, but that does not necessarily mean they will behave like traditional exchange-traded funds or mutual funds that invest in stocks, bonds or other asset classes.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
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Social isolation and financial strain can make people more vulnerable to fraud. If someone approaches you with an investment or trading opportunity, consider running it by someone you know and trust first.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
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Unregistered brokers selling binary options, foreign exchange (forex) programs, and cryptocurrencies are targeting people who lost their jobs due to COVID-19. The scams promise unrealistically high profits, but later force victims to pay excessive “fees” and “taxes” to get their supposed earnings.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
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Fraudsters commonly use major news events, such as the spread of COVID-19, to add credibility to their cons or manipulate emotions. You can better protect yourself by learning to recognize common mental biases that everyone has, as well as common fraud tactics—and by taking a few preventative steps.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
Before you make a trade, be sure you understand these basic principles that will help you spot and avoid fraud.
Futures Market Basics
Learn the fundamentals of the futures market, who uses futures how market professionals are regulated, and what to consider before getting started.
Futures Market Basics
Futures markets allow commodity producers and users to hedge price risk. This allows them to conduct business with greater certainty and helps stabilize prices for consumers.
Futures Market Basics
Learn the nuts and bolts of trading commodity futures and options contracts, and the intermediaries involved in the trading process.
Futures Market Basics
Prices are available from a variety of sources, here’s a general rundown of how prices and volume are reported with explanations of key terms.
Futures Market Basics
Look up specialized terms and phrases of the commodity futures, options and swaps markets.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
They may damage crops or disrupt production, but well-known events do not necessarily increase the likelihood of making profits in commodity futures or options trades.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
The schemes may change, but the common tactics fraudsters use stay the same. Learn how to spot them.
Spot and Avoid Fraud
Check the registration and disciplinary history of your financial provider, and ask questions before you invest.