How to Trade Oil in 10 Steps: Guide to Profitable Oil Trading

To guard ourselves against the possibility of a false signal, we’ve added the CCI as our best indicator for crude oil trading, to confirm the Crude Oil cycle. Today you’re going to learn how to trade like a professional Oil trader by using our Crude Oil trading tips. The Crude Oil market is not just a high liquidity market, it’s also one of the most favored markets by professional traders who like to find opportunities to profit. Some of the largest oil ETFs include the SPDR Energy Select Sector Fund (XLE), the VanEck Vectors Oil Services ETF (OIH), and the iShares U.S. Besides investing in ETFs, you can also gain indirect exposure to the oil market by trading currencies of oil-producing countries, such as the Canadian dollar and the Mexican peso. Oil traders need to be aware of all OPEC meetings and closely analyze all statements published by the cartel.

Oil trading times also depend on which broker and trading strategy you are using. However, long-term investors invest their money and wait for months or years to achieve their desired results. OPEC countries meet regularly throughout the year to discuss global conditions of the oil market and regulate supply, which in turn has a significant impact on the price of oil. However, with the arrival of fracking technology in the US, OPEC’s power to control global oil prices has somewhat diminished. The basic economic principle, that also applies to oil markets, is that falling supply and increasing demand push prices higher. Oil markets offer attractive trading opportunities as the global economic landscape is constantly changing.

Fundamental Analysis

The chart above shows the correlation between oil and natural gas since 2020. However, since 2021, the price of both assets has been steadily growing. In this article, you will learn what factors to consider when trading oil, where and how to buy it, and what strategies to choose when trading this asset. Stay up-to-date with crude oil market developments and news by utilizing ATFX’s educational resources. You can follow our blogposts for the latest market news and our YouTube channel for more trading ideas. This allows you to practice oil trading risk-free without risking your hard-earned money.

71% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. The two most popular types are Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI), which are traded on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) respectively. They are used as benchmarks for global oil prices, as well as economic health. Futures are used by companies to lock in an advantageous price for oil and hedge against adverse price movements.

Several reports coming up this week could sway the Fed’s thinking. On Wednesday will come the latest monthly update on prices that U.S. consumers are paying across the country. The software company posted weaker-than-expected quarterly revenue and guidance.

You only need to speculate on whether the price will move up or down, stay within a certain range or move outside of it, or hit a certain price level or fail to do so. The rate of return has always been predefined with the expiry time. Supply and demand are the two main factors behind  price movement. Whether there are wars in oil production areas or the global economy is making changes, investors always take these two factors into consideration. Before delving into oil trading strategies, and discussing technical and fundamental analysis, it’s vital to know why oil trading is popular. Changes in oil price can make a big difference in almost every product around the world.

Here are the most important market-moving factors that oil traders need to be aware of. When talking about oil trading, you need to be aware that there are many different types of oil. Some of them are more liquid than others and have different qualities that also determine their price on the market. Traders should choose based on their expectations and available time. If Forex trading is a hobby that brings profit, then medium-term trading is the best option.

Margin trading with CFDs allows you to magnify your trading results and to bet on falling prices on the oil market through short-selling. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange allows you to trade oil futures around the clock, six days a week, with a 60-minute break each day. If you choose to trade CFDs, which are an over-the-counter product and not traded on exchanges, oil can be traded Sunday through Friday, 21 hours a day with a three-hour break. However, bear in mind that not all of them are participating in the market to make money. Commercials, for example, aim to hedge their market exposure and lock in future oil prices, which is why they’re often trading against the trend.

For instance, a trader exercising American crude oil call options takes a long position in the underlying crude oil futures contract. Conversely, exercising crude oil put options means taking a short futures position. Crude oil trades on the New York Mercantile Exchange as light sweet crude oil futures contracts, as well as other commodities exchanges around the world. Futures contracts are agreements to deliver a quantity of a commodity at a fixed price and date in the future. Futures are more advanced than investing in oil stocks or funds and should be approached with caution. Futures are a way for a producer to lock in the price of what they are selling in advance — and for the buyer to lock in the price of what they are purchasing.

We list regulated brokers and platforms that are available in your country, discuss the reasons why people trade in oil, and provide some tips for understanding the oil market. In this guide to trading crude oil, we explain how and where you can trade this popular commodity. Pricing between these grades stayed within a narrow band for years, but that came to an end in 2010 when the two markets diverged sharply due to a rapidly changing supply versus demand environment. The rise of U.S. oil production, driven by shale and fracking technology, increased WTI output at the same time Brent drilling underwent a rapid decrease. Any opinions, news, research, analysis, prices, or other information contained on this website is provided as general market commentary, and does not constitute investment advice.

Quotes of black stuff are closely dependent on its production volumes, so the share price of such companies is closely correlated with oil volumes. Pay attention to the price charts of oil companies and oil stocks and you will notice the similarities. Turn on the TV, and you will see that almost every news broadcast covers oil quotes. Establish entry and exit rules for your trades and integrate risk management techniques to protect your investments.

You can trade CFDs on margin, meaning you can gain greater exposure for your initial capital by putting up only a fraction of the value of a trade and essentially borrowing the rest from your broker. You should always conduct your own due diligence, looking at the latest news and company’s fundamentals before trading. Oil shale production in the US has made the country a net exporter of crude oil since November 2019, increasing its influence on the global market and moderating OPEC’s impact. Crude oil is a commodity extracted along with natural gas by drilling in oil fields.

Steps to Making a Profit in Crude Oil Trading

U.S. law mandates that “pattern day traders” for stocks and ETFs maintain margin account balances of at least $25,000. Anyone who opens and closes a position on the same day at least four times a week is considered a pattern day trader. Individual brokerages may impose their own requirements beyond that, but you must have at least $25,000 to start day trading in earnest. However, while you can day trade single shares, ETFs (like stocks) are typically traded in 100-share blocks called lots. If the price moves a penny, and you’re holding 100 shares, you make or lose $1. Options contracts typically cover at least 100 shares of the underlying security, so options traders can’t trade single shares.

• Crude oil is the world economy’s primary energy source, making it a very popular commodity to trade.
• Trading oil on the spot market doesn’t have an expiry date and you can open and close your positions at any time when the markets are open.
• This is the study of past price movements to determine future price action.
• Immediate exposure to oil prices and rapid settlement make spot trading suitable for short-term trading opportunities.

This can be a tactical move to increase profit/decrease losses, or it can change the physical delivery of a commodity at a more convenient date. Over the years, social media has become an increasingly useful platform to share ideas, pass on information and receive breaking news. This is the case for oil traders using #OOTT, which stands for the Organisation of Oil Traders on Twitter.

What are the different types of crude oil?

Trading hours of futures and options on the ICE exchange are determined by stock exchange hours. If traders purchase a CFD in Forex, they can trade oil 24 hours a day, five days a week. The crude oil market is highly volatile, which attracts traders looking to book short-term profits. Traders can buy and sell crude oil as a hedge ev stocks to watch against inflation eroding their purchasing power. Before you start trading, you should have a clear crude oil trading strategy to determine when to buy and sell, to potentially secure your profits and limit losses. With futures contracts, traders agree to buy or sell a specified amount of oil on a set date in the future.

There are still two more trading conditions that need to be satisfied. The second technical indicator we’re going to use to spot cycles in the commodity market is the CCI indicator. Answers to those questions can provide you with a significant edge in the commodites markets.

There are research tools that cover both technical and fundamental analysis and a wide selection of other timesaving and risk-management features to help you trade. Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are instruments that offer a more user-friendly way for retail investors to trade oil. CFDs are binding agreements between brokers and their clients where one will agree to pay the other the difference on the buy and sell price of a trade. If you’re following developments in the oil market and have a view on which way price is heading, then the good news is that there are several ways to trade oil. Getting to grips with how to trade oil starts with understanding the core element of the market. They allocate production quotas to members, which, if stuck to, ensure revenues are optimised.

Investing in Oil: A Beginner’s Guide to Oil Markets

Political unrest, strike action or war can disrupt crude oil production and reduce supply. International sanctions on a country can reduce the availability of its oil on the market, thereby reducing global supply. With CMC Markets, it is possible to spread bet or trade CFDs on our commodities baskets, which includes our Energy Index. This will give you further exposure to the commodities market, while also helping to diversify your trading portfolio. You’ll need to choose whether to buy or sell the market – depending on whether you think oil will rise or fall in price – and decide on your position size, which will determine the margin you pay.

In addition, nowadays with countless online trading brokers, there are really many places to buy oil stocks. They control 40% of the global oil supply and up to 75% of total reserves. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is a light, sweet crude oil (petroleum with less than 0.5% sulfur is called sweet) considered one of the main global oil benchmarks, along with Brent oil. WTI is a blend of several oils drilled and processed in the United States, primarily serves as a benchmark for the US oil market.

Start Oil Trading With This Ultimate Guide (Plus Online Brokers to Use)

By “oil trader” most people probably think of a person who orders delivery of a certain amount of oil in barrels, which he then has stored somewhere. He then waits to see what direction the oil price will go in order to make a profitable sale. There are other types, but the two are the best in terms of quality and their prices are very strongly correlated, so we will describe them in more detail here. You can find a chart of Brent crude oil in Purple Trading platforms under the name BRENT. Fixing trading profit and loss or limiting risk at a certain level depends directly on your trading strategy.

Crude oil ETFs invest in crude oil futures themselves in an attempt to track the performance of the underlying commodity index. “Oil” goes beyond what you put in your car, and understanding this complex market takes more than waiting to fill your tank until your local gas station’s prices dip. Just like any investment, supply and demand play a role in how much oil is worth. For example, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 caused oil prices to jump over concerns about global supply.

The 10% margin offered by Capital.com means you have to deposit only 10% of the value of the trade you want to open, and the rest is covered by your CFD provider. For example, if you wanted to place a trade for $1,000 worth of crude oil CFDs with https://bigbostrade.com/ a 10% margin, you would need only $100 as initial capital to open the trade. Whether you have a positive or negative view of the crude oil forecast and predictions, you can try to speculate on the price direction either upwards or downward.

How to trade crude oil CFDs

To buy or sell oil investments, you’ll need to have a brokerage account. Crude oil trading offers excellent opportunities to profit in nearly all market conditions due to its unique standing within the world’s economic and political systems. Also, energy sector volatility has risen sharply in recent years, ensuring strong trends that can produce consistent returns for short-term swing trades and long-term timing strategies.