For physical gold it is India, but for futures trading volumes I would like to know if there is a dominant market. ?

I'm writing a novel in which one character is a full-time futures trader, trading her own speculative account from her home after having traded professionally for a specialty mutual fund.

When I first started researching this book years ago, I visited some serious at-home traders who watched the markets at home with a satellite feed and called their orders in to a broker who then executed them at the CBOT…or whatever exchange.

Now the CBOT combines open outcry with a tandem electronic system. So would my trader still phone a broker to execute orders? Or would it be more efficient for her to execute those orders through her computer?

The CFTC reports a weekly Commitment of Traders report for commodity futures. They split the commitment between “non-commercial” and “commercial”. Is non-commercial individual investors? Is commercial investment banks and funds?

Don't tell me its risky I don't want to hear it. If I think crude oil is going up 5 dollar a barrel soon. How do I leverage the most? Its going to be my last 50K. I am over 1.3 mil in debt so and this is it for me help.

- Wouldnt underwriters want to maximize offer price, as opposed to open price?
- What are the implications for higher offer versus a big pop on trading day?

The government of India has made the controversial decision to halt all futures trading on valuable, life sustaining commodities such as wheat and rice . . . in an effort to quell panic and temporarily stop the rampant speculation on the severity of shortages . . . Should the U.S. government be able to do the same in times of emergency . . . or if appears market conditions could lead to civil unrest? Keep in mind . . . the NYSE has in place emergency protocols for shut down should market decline be affected "Acts of God . . ." Reference shut down post 9/11 . . . Since the NYSE can temporarily shut down the market during decline, should they be able to shut down the markets during rampant, speculative inclines?

Wondering you know which futures brokers (preferreably discount / online ones) now carry those house index futures contracts?

Thanks a lot.

Would you ever have to go pick up some wheat and try to find a place to store it for instance? I have heard there are horror stories like this? Any truth to this rumor?