If you area an experienced trader looking to diversify your portfolio and add something more than financial products, you have probably contemplated energy trading. Similarly, as a new trader, you may hear of the lucrative and exciting commodity trading markets and wish to become involved. Thanks to the birth of online trading and the existence of top-quality brokers, trading in the energy market is now accessible to all. This once quite closed market, trading in the likes of crude oil and natural gas options has now managed to become more accessible than ever to regular traders.

Energy Trading Fundamentals

Energy trading is a form of commodity trading which at its very core means trading in the basic resources required to sustain life. This equates to trading oil, gas, and even electricity. The trade within these markets globally is tremendous in terms of volume. This in itself provides an ideal window of opportunity which many traders attempt to capitalize upon.

In times gone by, energy trading was for only an elite group of high value traders and required an abundance of capital as well as abounding expert knowledge in the energy field. Whilst it is true that the direct trading field of these energy markets is still comprised of the largest oil traders and multi-billion dollar investors, technology has afforded new ways for each individual trader to get into energy trading.

Nowadays, traders can avail the services of a top trading broker to engage in the energy market. This is done largely through CFDs trading at the live market rates from major exchanges where energy is traded, such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Many of the best brokerage firms offer these trading markets which remove much of the complexity and risk when trading energy in today’s market.

How Energy Trading Differs from the Rest

The global energy trade has a number of marked differences from trading in financial markets. For this reason it is key understand the important factors which contribute to making the energy trading market different as you learn how to trade energy.

Market Volatility

The energy market is typically more volatile than other financial markets. This can simply be put down to the number of influencing factors which are at work within the energy trading market, combined with the levels of liquidity which are active within the market at any one time.

These influencing factors are predominantly external, by nature, this makes the energy market much more unpredictable, leading to increased volatility. Such external factors which can have a huge influence include nature. As an example, natural gas trading will fluctuate when new sources are discovered from nature, likewise oil.  In the case of oil energy trading especially, the geopolitical climate can have a huge impact on the market. As happens, if the supply of oil from a major OPEC country is restricted, the market will move significantly.

Price Formation

The overriding factor which will determine price formation in energy markets is supply and demand. This can be simply explained as, when demand exceeds supply, prices go up, and oppositely, when supply is greater than demand, prices will fall. Again, it is something which is intricately impacted by the external factors at work. This can make for fluctuating short-term prices in a manner which financial traders would typically not have experienced in prior trading markets.  

Getting Started as an Energy Trader

As mentioned, many top brokers such as RCPro, now cater for all levels of trader who wants to get involved in trading energy CFDs. Many trading platforms also meet this need with extensive analytics and professional charting tools available to traders in energy markets. Metatrader 4 is a prime example of such a platform which is also offered by RCPro.

Once you have established your account with a broker who has experience and offerings in the energy market, your next focus should be on learning. This will include being aware and increasing your knowledge of global affairs to encompass the geopolitical environment and other external factors. Combining this information with the learning and professional trading resources housed within a top brokerage, and you will have set out on the path to energy trading success.

Conclusion

In summary, we can note that whilst energy trading is now increasing accessible beyond an elite group of traders, it still remains a challenging market to anticipate. With the assistance of a top-level broker though, providing extensive resources and trading tools, it is very possible that a generation of new and experienced traders can successfully participate in energy options trading. This is something which takes a slightly different set of skills to regular financial trading, but the same hard work attitude and willingness to absorb knowledge will create the same opportune conditions to achieve success.  

This piece was contributed by RCPro.com, a highly renowned broker with extensive experience in the field of energy trading and a powerful rang of learning resources to assist those with an interest in developing their trading potential within energy CFDs trading.