What unfolded in the cocoa market between early 2024 and December of that year was, by any measure, one of the most extraordinary commodity rallies in modern market history—and one that retail traders would do well to study as a textbook case of supply-shock-driven parabolic pricing. The December 2024 record high of $12,931 per ton […]
Futures Markets: A Guide for Retail Traders
Futures markets play a central role in global finance, allowing traders and institutions to manage risk, hedge exposures, and speculate on the future price of assets ranging from commodities and indices to currencies and interest rates. Originally developed for producers and commercial hedgers, futures contracts have evolved into some of the most actively traded instruments […]
VIX Retreats After Volatility Surge
Amid recent geopolitical developments, futures on the implied volatility of the S&P 500—the VIX—rose to touch the 30 level on Monday, March 9, a level last seen in April 2025. In a recent note published by a professional volatility trader, it was argued that when the VIX closes above 30, opportunities for volatility traders tend […]

