commodity markets basic education

following links provide basic education on trading commodity markets

http://www.investorsdepot.com/futures101.htm#buying

The 12 Golden Rules for Successful Trading

https://www.lind-waldock.com/quotes_charts_news/ -- provide prices on commodities
After logging into trail account, go to Accoutts->Margin Requirements ( click this link). These margin requirements are automatically updated on a daily basis, but can change at any time. --
IM = Initial (Original) Margin
MM = Maintenance Margin


https://www.lind-waldock.com/ on this link there is a paper-trade account link .. see
Practice Trading Risk-Free
Paper-trade commodities in a virtual trading environment with a free $50,000 simulated trading account. Login to Lind SimTrade.

menu The Markets-->Contracts-> has all contracts
note: for Crudu oil every $1 ( one dollar) changes in prices translate to $1000 profit/loss per contract
for gold every $10 change in gold price translate to $1000 profit/loss per contract

http://www.thepitmaster.com/futures/trad1a.htm

Most often asked questions and answers

http://www.kshitij.com/oil/oilcontract.shtml

http://ezinearticles.com/?Commodities-Trading-101---Do-You-Know-The-Basics-Of-Commodities-Trading?&id=461959

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Lind-waldac Margin Requirements

Margin requirements below indicate initial margin to take a new position and maintenance margin to hold a current position in the market, on a net basis.

These margin requirements are automatically updated on a daily basis, but can change at any time. Please contact your Trade Desk or broker for current requirements.

Abbreviations:
IM = Initial (Original) Margin
MM = Maintenance Margin

Margins are listed in the currency in which the contract is denominated. Please contact your Trade Desk or broker for margin rates on:

* Non-U.S. markets
* Spreads
* Hedge rates for qualified clients

Delivery month margins generally go into effect either on the first business day of the month or when the daily price limit is removed from the contract, whichever comes first.

All margin calls must be met on the same day your account is called for additional margin. Information derived from sources believed to be reliable.

Security futures margins are the greater of 20% of the contract value, based on the previous day's settlement price, or $120.

Commodity Exchange IM MM
10YR INT SWAP CBT 2,025 1,500
30-DAY FED FUND CBT 1,013 750
AUSTRALIAN $ CGBX 2,430 1,800
B-POUND CGBX 2,700 2,000
BARLEY (WCE) WCE 203 150
BIG NASDAQ CGBX 16,250 13,000
BIG S&P CGBX 22,500 18,000
BIG SILVER ECBT CBT 4,050 3,000
C-DOLLAR CGBX 3,105 2,300
CBOT 5-YR NOTE CBT 1,013 750
CBT 10-YR NOTE CBT 1,620 1,200
CBT-2-YR NOTE CBT 945 700
CCI INDEX NYF 4,000 4,000
CFE S&P VARIANC CFE 6,875 5,500
CFE VIX INDEX CFE 2,250 1,800
CME AA BUTTER CMEP 1,215 900
CME EUROYEN CGBX 10,125 7,500
CMX ALUMINUM CMX 2,700 2,000
CMX GOLD CMX 4,050 3,000
CMX SILVER CMX 6,075 4,500
COCOA CSC 1,260 900
COFFEE CSC 3,780 2,700
COPPER CMX 6,413 4,750
CORN CBT 1,080 800
CRUDE OIL NYM 6,075 4,500
DJ AIG INDEX CBT 2,295 1,700
DJ STOX 50 EURX 2,650 2,650
DOW JONES CBT 7,005 5,604
E-MINI S&P CGBX 4,500 3,600
EC/JY XRATE GBX CGBX 540,000 400,000
EMINI FX-EURO CGBX 1,283 950
EMINI J-YEN CGBX 1,350 1,000
EMINY CRUDE NYM 3,038 2,250
EMINY HEAT OIL NYM 3,038 2,250
EMINY NO-LEAD NYM 3,038 2,250
EU/BP (GLBX) CGBX 1,215 900
EU/SF XRATE GBX CGBX 1,755 1,300
EURODOLLAR CGBX 878 650
EURX 3-EURIBOR EURX 625 625
EURX DAX INDEX EURX 14,288 14,288
EURX E-BOBL EURX 800 800
EURX E-BUND EURX 1,400 1,400
EURX E-BUXL EURX 3,000 3,000
EURX E-SCHATZ EURX 350 350
EURX SWISS10YR EURX 1,300 1,300
FEEDER CATTLE CMEP 1,350 1,000
FNX BP/JY NYF 864,500 650,000
FNX BP/SF NYF 4,123 3,100
FNX EU/BP NYF 998 750
FNX EU/JY NYF 465,500 350,000
GLBX CASH BUT CMEP 608 450
GOLD 100 ECBT CBT 4,050 3,000
GSC INDEX CMEP 5,700 3,800
HKE HANG SENG HKFE 159,850 159,850
HKE HIBOR 3M HKFE 3,633 3,633
HTG OIL NYME NYM 6,075 4,500
ICE WTI CRUDE IPE 6,500 6,500
IMM 2K RUSSELL CMEP 26,250 21,000
IMM FX EURO CGBX 2,565 1,900
IPE BRENT CRUDE IPE 5,600 5,600
IPE GAS OIL IPE 4,500 4,500
J-YEN CGBX 2,700 2,000
KC VALUE LN ELC KBT 1,000 800
LCE BARLEY LIF 200 200
LCE COCOA LIF 540 540
LCE COFFEE$ LIF 455 455
LCE WHEAT LIF 170 170
LEAN HOGS CMEP 1,215 900
LFFE EURIBOR LIF 575 575
LFFE EUROSWISS LIF 450 450
LFFE FTSE 100 LIF 3,000 3,000
LFFE JGB LIF 1,630,000 1,630,000
LFFE LG GILT LIF 1,610 1,610
LFFE MINI FTSE LIF 1,228 909
LIFFE SUGAR LIF 1,820 1,820
LIVE CATTLE CMEP 1,080 800
LUMBER CMEP 1,650 1,100
ME 10YR CAN BND ME 1,280 1,280
ME 3MO BA ME 311 311
ME S&P CD60 ME 5,026 5,026
MEFF E-10YR MFF 3,000 3,000
MEFF IBX35E MFF 2,700 2,000
MEXICAN PESO CGBX 1,875 1,500
MIDCAP 400 CGBX 20,000 16,000
MINI BEANS CBT 540 400
MINI COFFEE CSC 1,260 900
MINI CORN CBT 216 160
MINI DOW ECBT CBT 3,503 2,802
MINI GOLD ECBT CBT 1,350 1,000
MINI MIDCAP E CGBX 4,000 3,200
MINI RBOB GAS CGBX 3,375 2,500
MINI RUSSELL CGBX 5,250 4,200
MINI SILVER ECB CBT 810 600
MINI WHEAT CBT 405 300
MTF CAC40 JMB MATF 2,600 2,600
NATURAL GAS NYM 6,750 5,000
NEW ZEALAND $ CGBX 2,430 1,800
NIKKEI 225 CGBX 5,000 4,000
NY COTTON CTN 1,680 1,200
NYME NO-LEAD NYM 6,075 4,500
OATS CBT 608 450
ORANGE JUICE CTN 1,890 1,350
PALLADIUM NYM 2,025 1,500
PB BELLY FZN CMEP 1,620 1,200
PLATINUM NYM 3,375 2,500
R/J CRB NYF 1,600 1,600
RBOB GASOLINE NYM 6,750 5,000
ROUGH RICE CBT 675 500
S-FRANC CGBX 1,755 1,300
SFE 10Y BOND SFE 1,600 1,600
SFE 3YR BOND SFE 950 950
SFE 90DY BILL SFE 500 500
SFE SPI 200 SFE 8,000 8,000
SHRT STERLING LIF 312 312
SMALL NASDAQ100 CGBX 3,250 2,600
SMX EUROYEN SMX 10,125 7,500
SMX MINI JGB SMX 108,000 80,000
SMX NIKKEI SMX 387,500 310,000
SOY MEAL CBT 1,823 1,350
SOY OIL CBT 945 700
SOYBEANS CBT 2,700 2,000
SUGAR CSC 910 650
T-BILL CMEP 405 300
T-BOND CBT 2,295 1,700
TSE JGB10 TSE 750,000 750,000
TSE TOPIX TSE 335,000 335,000
US DOLLAR IND NYF 1,064 800
WHEAT CBT 2,025 1,500
WHEAT KCBT KBT 1,875 1,500
WHEAT MPLS MGE 1,885 1,450
WHITE SUGAR LCE LCE 1,670 1,670
WPG CANOLA WCE 216 160
WPG FLAXSEED WCE 270 200