Precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium represent a unique asset class for investors seeking alternatives to stocks and bonds. Their unique properties and historical performance can enhance portfolio diversification. There are several ways to gain exposure to precious metals, including through futures contracts traded on exchanges like the COMEX. Here is an in-depth guide on how to invest in precious metal futures in 2024.
What are Precious Metal Futures?
Precious metal futures contracts allow investors to speculate on gold, silver, platinum, and palladium prices without needing to store physical bars and coins. They are standardized legal agreements to buy or sell a predefined quantity of the metal on a set future expiration date for an agreed price between a buyer and seller.
For example, the benchmark COMEX Gold Futures Contract represents 100 troy ounces of gold. Instead of exchanging 100oz of physical gold, the contract can be cash-settled when it expires, with profits or losses based on the price difference between the opening trade and expiry date.
Benefits of Trading Precious Metal Futures
Compared to directly owning precious metals or investing in ETFs, futures offer several advantages including:
- Leverage – Futures allow controlling large dollar values of metal with only a small percentage deposit called “margin”. This frees up capital for other investments.
- Ease of Short Selling – Investors can readily profit from falling precious metal prices using futures. This is difficult with physical metals or ETFs due to complex borrowing procedures required.
- Tax Advantages – Gains on futures held for over 12 months qualify for lower 60/40 tax treatment, with 60% taxed at the long-term capital gains rate.
- Hedging Capability – Futures provide an efficient way for jewelry manufacturers, mines, and refineries to hedge raw material price risk.
How Do Precious Metal Futures Contracts Work?
All futures contracts feature specifications defining key details, set by the exchanges they trade on, like:
- Unit of Trading – The contract unit quoted. For gold futures this is 100 troy ounces for example.
- Price Quotation – Prices are quoted in US Dollars and cents per troy ounce. Minimum tick sizes between price movements apply.
- Contract Expiry Dates – Standard months when futures contracts expire. For precious metals this includes February, April, June, August, October and December expiries.
- Settlement Procedures – Futures may involve physical delivery or cash settlement depending on the contract. Most speculators opt for cash settlement of gains/losses at expiry rather than taking delivery.
READ ALSO: Beginner’s Guide to Precious Metals IRAs in 2024
How to Trade Precious Metal Futures
Here are the six key steps to get started trading precious metal futures in 2024:
Step 1: Select an Online Broker for Futures
Specialized futures brokers like Daniels Trading or R.J. O’Brien offer platforms for trading futures alongside research tools, market data, and expertise. Alternatively, many mainstream retail brokers now offer futures trading. Open and fund your chosen futures account.
Step 2: Request Approval for Precious Metals Futures
You will need to apply to trade specific futures contracts. Brokers assess your application based on factors like trading experience and account capital to pre-approve maximum risk exposure.
Step 3: Analyze Contract Specifications
Each precious metal futures contract differs slightly in specifications and quoted prices. Review gold, silver, platinum and palladium contracts available and determine optimal sizes and expiries matching your strategy, risk appetite and capital.
For example, both standard COMEX silver futures (5,000 troy oz) and mini-contracts (2,500 troy oz) allow greater flexibility for different account sizes over the 100oz gold contract.
Step 4: Place Your First Trade
Once approved, you can execute your first trade by entering orders online or contacting broker trading desks:
- Select contract – Gold, silver, platinum or palladium futures contract and expiry month.
- Choose order type – Market, limit or stop orders to enter positions.
- Go long or short – Buy if bullish on prices, sell if bearish.
- Set stop-losses – Place stop orders limiting potential risk.
Monitor your trade in real-time until offsetting, expiration or auto-settlement.
Step 5: Roll Over or Cash Settle at Expiry
As expiry approaches, to maintain futures exposure, established positions must be closed and new contracts purchased in a process called “rolling over”. Alternatively, let your contract settle for cash payout without reopening.
Step 6: Offset to Realize Profit/Loss
You can close futures trades at any time rather than holding to expiration by placing equal and opposite offsetting trades. Your profit or loss calculates based on the price difference between opening and closing the positions.
Which Precious Metal Makes the Best Futures Contract?
Each precious metal futures contract offers varying benefits and risks for traders to consider:
Gold – The benchmark contract with the highest liquidity and tightest spreads. Best for high volume day trading strategies.
Silver – More affordable per ounce enabling smaller accounts to trade meaningful contract sizes. Volatility allows substantial profits.
Platinum – Complex global supply dynamics increase volatility, yields and risk. Trades 24 hours a day like gold.
Palladium – Niche contract requiring understanding of auto sector demand drivers. Highest price volatility of the precious metals.
To Recap: Precious Metal Futures Offer Portfolio Diversification
Incorporating precious metal futures into an investment portfolio provides an alternative asset with unique inflation/deflation hedging properties not found in stocks and bonds. While risks exist, with the proper due diligence selecting suitable contract sizes and implementing prudent trading strategies tailored to personal risk parameters, precious metal futures can enhance portfolio performance, especially during periods of economic uncertainty likely in 2024 and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
How risky are precious metal futures?
Like all futures, precious metal contracts carry substantial risk given their inherent volatility and leverage. However, when traded prudently within risk limits, they can yield significant upside. Conservative investors may prefer less risky choices like physical precious metals bullion or ETFs.
What is the margin requirement for precious metal futures?
Minimum margin requirements vary across brokers and contracts but expect initial margin anywhere from 5-15% of the contract’s absolute dollar value. Maintenance margin is the lower ongoing minimum balance to retain positions. Margins change based on market volatility.
What causes precious metal futures price movements?
Gold and silver prices predominantly react to US dollar strength, inflation expectations and geopolitics. Platinum and palladium are also driven by automotive and industrial demand. Additionally, futures see amplified price movements from speculator activity on top of physical supply/demand fundamentals.
Can I take physical delivery of metals from futures?
Yes. COMEX gold, silver, and platinum futures allow opting for physical delivery of metal bars at expiry, which must be stored appropriately. However, the complexity means most individual traders choose to cash settle their P&L instead.
Do precious metal futures expire?
Yes, each contract has a defined expiration date, usually monthly. Long positions either need to be closed, rolled into the next month, or allowed to settle for cash at expiry after which new contracts must be opened. Perpetual swap contracts also exist offering extended holding periods.
In another related article, Tips for Rolling Over Your 401k to a Precious Metals IRA in 2024
