W.D. Gann is considered to be the greatest trader of all time. This book reveals how to make profits on the commodities exchanges. It combines theory and practice, and through its straightforward, logical approach, Gann presents an excellent case for making money in commodities.

The book to which Mr. Gann claimed he gave the best years of his experience, How to Make Profits In Commodities is the favorite of among Gann-fan commodity traders and stock traders worldwide

First imported to America more than five hundred years ago and propagated on a small scale until the eighteenth century, cocoa is now one of the most heavily traded food commodities in the world. While potentially very lucrative, trading in cocoa remains a highly complex--and risky--venture, rendered even more so today by a sweeping tide of changes that has dramatically altered its landscape. In The International Cocoa Trade, the first comprehensive resource of its kind, commodity expert Robin Dand provides an all-encompassing guide to the global cocoa industry, delineating and clarifying its various intricacies for all who operate and trade within it.

Far more sophisticated than it was just a decade ago, the cocoa market has undergone major shifts--low prices, a decrease in the number of companies trading, and an increase in risk levels--that have not only altered the manner in which its key players conduct business, but have necessitated a better grasp of industry fundamentals by all those involved in the production, trading, and distribution of cocoa. As Dand points out, "The requirement of understanding the cocoa trade is not limited to those in the string of buyers and sellers. There are others outside this chain that now have larger roles in cocoa than in the past, in particular the banks, but also the shipping companies and warehousekeepers."

In this complete resource, Dand helps all links in this "chain"--exporters, dealers, brokers, bankers--achieve a better understanding of the market by providing a complete and accessible survey of all its essential components. Casting a wide net, The International Cocoa Trade offers a wealth of information on a variety of important topics, including the history and agronomics of cocoa, exchange rules, trading procedures, prices, and contract specifications. Here's where you'll find in-depth coverage of: Cocoa production--its history, evolution, and recent trends Quality assessment--the cut-test, fault definition and standards, methods of achieving quality cocoa The actuals market--export marketing, trade associations, marketing boards, processing Terminal markets--organization of futures markets, players, trading techniques, options, strike prices, regulatory bodies Contracts--weight and delivery terms, physical option contracts, forms and performance Consumption and stocks--the uses of cocoa, factors affecting consumption, assessment of stock levels, visible and invisible stocks, the International Cocoa Organization and the Buffer Stock.

Packed with numerous charts, graphs, and tables, and supported by a complete appendix that covers such vital cocoa contracts as AFCC, CAL, and CMAA, The International Cocoa Trade provides an up-to-date and incisive overview of a market that has grown and changed considerably over the past few years. An indispensable resource for everyone involved in the international trade of cocoa.

"Over the past few years the cocoa market has had to alter its manner of operation. . . . A]ll those in the chain of trade, from the exporter, dealer, broker through to the factory not only have to improve their understanding of the market but also some of the difficulties faced by others in the commodity. It is hoped that this book will help all involved in the international trade of cocoa to achieve this."--from the Preface.

The first comprehensive guide of its kind, The International Cocoa Trade provides an in-depth overview of one of the most heavily traded and lucrative commodities on the market, with complete details on: The history and origins of cocoa Agronomics and production Consumption and stocks Physical and terminal markets Trade and contract rules Quality assessment of beans Cocoa bean processing The manufacture of chocolate.

"Over the past two decades, the mathematically complex models of finance theory have had a direct and wide-ranging influence on finance practice. Nowhere is this conjoining of intrinsic intellectual interest with extrinsic application better exemplified than in derivative-security pricing. The backgrounds of the authors of Options, Futures and Exotic Derivatives fit perfectly this pattern of combining theory and practice and so does their book. The range and depth of subject matter show excellent taste for what is essential to know the field and what is relevant and important to its application in the financial world. In addition to its fine subject-defining, the book delivers on subject-content, with rigorous derivations presented in a clear, direct voice for the serious student, whether academic or practitioner. To the reader: Bon Appetit!" Robert C. Merton, Harvard Business School Long-Term Capital Management, L.P. "One of the merits of this book is that it is self-contained. It is both a textbook and a reference book. It covers the basics of the theory, as well as the techniques for valuation of many of the more exotic derivatives. It contains a detailed knowledge of the field. What is more, however, it is written with a deep understanding of the economics of finance." From the Foreword by Oldrich Alfons Vasicek "The authors have done an admirable job at distilling what is relevant in option research in one single volume. I wish I'd had the chance to read it before writing my own book." Nassim Taleb, veteran option arbitrageur and bestselling author of Dynamic Hedging: Managing Vanilla and Exotic Options "This is a delightful promenade in derivatives land. The book is encyclopaedicyet crisp and inspired. It is the story - told in equations - of the charms and spells of options and their underlying mathematics." Jamil Baz, Head of Financial Strategies, Lehman Brothers Europe Building steadily from the basic mathematical tools to the very latest techniques in exotic options, Options, Futures and Exotic Derivatives covers all aspects of the most innovative and rapidly developing area of international financial markets - the world of over-the-counter and tailor-made derivative asset pricing. Written by a globally renowned team of authors this book offers comprehensive coverage of exotic derivative assets and
* Deals with numerous new forms of exotic options and option pricing
* Provides detailed explanations of different models and numerical methods
* Offers a deep understanding of the economics of finance
With questions and review sections throughout, Options, Futures and Exotic Derivatives provides a thorough introduction to a crucial and expanding area in the world of finance for both finance students and practitioners.

Only Yesterday

Hailed as a classic even when it was first published in 1931, Only Yesterday remains one of the most vivid and precise accounts of the volatile stock market and the heady boom years of the 1920's. A vibrant social history that is unparalleled in scope and accuracy, it artfully depicts the rise of post - World War I prosperity, the catalytic incidents that led to the Crash of 1929, and the devastating economic decline that ensued—all set before a colorful backdrop of flappers, Al Capone, the first radio, and the "scandalous" rise of skirt hemlines. Now, this mesmerizing chronicle is reintroduced to offer readers of today an unforgettable look at one of the most dynamic periods of America's past.

With a novelist's eye for detail and a historian's attention to the facts, Frederick Lewis Allen tells a story that will ignite your imagination as its rich pageant of characters and events comes alive. Peppering his narrative with actual stock quotes and financial news, Allen tracks the major economic trends of the decade and explores the underlying causes of the Crash. Here are fresh accounts of Harding's oil scandals and the growth of the automobile industry, as well as the decline of the family farm, the Coolidge prosperity, and the long bull market of the late twenties. Allen's virtual hour-by-hour account of the Crash itself, told from multiple perspectives with mounting suspense, is as gripping as anything you are likely to read in fiction.

In addition to his power as a storyteller, Allen was a living witness to the events he describes; there is a thrilling you-are-there feeling about the unfolding history. After a brief "return to normalcy" following the War, the pace of life in America quickly escalated to a full gallop. New forces were being unleashed: prosperity with serious inflation, larger-than-life figures such as J. Pierpont Morgan and Henry Ford, and the Big Red Scare of the early twenties. Allen documents the new inventions, fads, and scandals as they affected the daily life of the country, including the impact of Freud and Einstein, Prohibition and Al Capone, Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey, the trial of Sacco and Vanzetti, and the shocking changes in manners and morals. In Only Yesterday we hear America talking to itself from coast to coast, furiously debating its own rapidly evolving destiny.

An engaging narrative that describes the harried, often tumultuous events of Wall Street in the twenties, as well as the infectious spirit of the times, Only Yesterday is not only a compelling account of years gone by, but a true classic that will be appreciated for years to come.

"When this fascinating social history of America in the 1920's was first published in 1931, the twenties were indeed Only Yesterday. But, as Mr. Allen makes clear, they were so much more than the clich— would have it. . . . Frederick Allen's marvelous book brings back an exciting time in the life of the nation. I am quite sure you will enjoy reading it as much as Mr. Allen and I enjoyed living it." —from the Foreword by Roy R. Neuberger.

Recognized as a classic even when it was first published in 1931, Only Yesterday is a fascinating and revealing chronicle of the volatile stock market and heady boom years of the 1920's. Written by an esteemed historian who witnessed firsthand the explosive atmosphere and events of the time, this compelling narrative takes its place as one of the most important and invaluable contributions to investment literature.

Acclaim for Only Yesterday

"Marvelously absorbing . . . Only Yesterday tells the story of the 1920's from the collapse of Wilson and the New Freedom to the collapse of Wall Street and the New Era." —Stuart Chase, Books.

"A perfectly grand piece of historical record and synthetic journalism." —Fanny Butcher, Chicago Tribune.

"A style that is verve itself . . . Besides telling the story of the bull market in fine perspective, Mr. Allen presents the first coherent account that we have seen of the oil scandals that will eventually make the Harding regime match that of President Grant and the Crédit Mobilier story in the history books of the future." —John Chamberlain, The New York Times.

A rare opportunity to go one-on-one with an industry giant and one of today's most respected financial thinkers, Merton Miller on Derivatives is a refreshingly accessible overview of derivatives, the revolution they have wrought, and the disasters they've supposedly caused.

Though routinely assailed by regulators and the media, derivatives are hailed by a celebrated group of practitioners, analysts, and theorists, led most notably by Nobel laureate Merton Miller. Miller is legendary for repeatedly demonstrating—often with humor and always with grace—the value of derivatives in price discovery, managing financial risk, and tailoring a risk-return profile.

Here, in this collection of his recent essays, Miller expounds on a number of critical derivatives issues. Is it a problem that some organizations have lost substantial sums on derivatives? Miller's short answer: Some organizations will always find ways to lose money. Nor does he believe that more government regulation is the answer. He notes, for example, that for all the horror stories about derivatives, the world's banks have lost vastly more in bad real estate deals than they'll ever lose on their derivatives portfolios.

Merton Miller on Derivatives offers twenty-two provocative chapters. A sampling: "The Recent Derivatives 'Disasters': Assessing the Damage" takes a close look at such debacles as Procter & Gamble, Orange County, and Barings Bank. "Financial Regulation: The Inside Game" uses an apt sports analogy to show how the derivatives regulatory game is really played, as opposed to the way outsiders imagine it is played. "Japanese-American Trade Relations: Can Rambo Beat Godzilla?" succinctly sums up the nature of Japanese-American trade. And "Risk and Return on Futures Contracts: A Chicago View" highlights the pivotal role derivatives play in hedging risk.

There are also penetrating pieces on corporate governance that compare the system existing in the United States and England with the one existing in Germany and Japan. To complete the collection, a section called "Questions I'm Often Asked" features Miller's unique perspective on a wide range of topics, from what's ahead for China to what we've learned from the Crash of 1987.

Contrary to widely held perceptions, the so-called "derivatives revolution" has made the world safer, not more dangerous. This explains the phenomenal growth of financial futures. As Miller shows, derivatives enable organizations to deal effectively with risks that have plagued them for decades, even centuries.

Praise for merton miller on derivatives

"Miller is one of the clearest thinkers of our time. Once again, he provides a simple, insightful, and witty analysis of an important and complex topic. This book is truly fun to read." —Kenneth R. French Beinecke Professor of Management Studies and Finance Yale University School of Management.

"Some of us trade markets; others of us observe markets; Merton Miller understands markets. As this volume demonstrates, Professor Miller is unsurpassed at cutting through fluff, misinterpretation, and even obfuscation to get to the heart of highly charged issues." —Charles W. Smithson Managing Director, CIBC Wood Gundy.

"Vintage Merton Miller: zesty writing and forcefully communicated ideas, not only on derivatives, but on a wide range of topics in financial markets. This is no ponderous academic tome, but rather a series of entertaining, yet devastatingly analytical essays on controversial issues in finance. Great reading and great analysis." —Hans R. Stoll Walker Professor of Finance and Director of the Financial Markets Research Center, Vanderbilt University.

"I am grateful to Merton Miller for setting the record straight, once again, regarding derivatives. With his customary brilliance, Merton cuts through the fog of misunderstanding and nonsense that too often surrounds derivatives and reveals them for what they truly are: phenomenally successful and essential risk management tools." —Jack Sandner Chairman, Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

"This book brings together Merton Miller's most important works on derivatives markets. One of the most creative and analytical minds of our time, Merton is also a great writer and storyteller. This book is a must-read for anyone seriously interested in derivatives markets." —Rick Kilcollin President and CEO, Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

A to Z primer gives complete descriptions of the 12 most popular commodity option strategies. Learn about time value, premium, option pricing and best trading months for each commodity. See how to use options in conjunction with futures for risk abatement and profit enhancement. Great for getting started or refining techniques.----------------------------------------------------------------------------Let this classic reference tool be your guide as you enter the exciting, and profitable, world of commodity options. In clear and concise language, Spears explains how every investment need can be met by the versatility of commodity options. This book also: - Details twelve commodity option strategiesthat will help you successfully buy a call, buy a put, write a naked call, sell a straddle, and much more - Explains the basic elements of commodity options.- Discusses how commodity options are actually traded, including strike prices and trading months.- Features a comprehensive glossary of easy to understand futures and options terms.Plus, charts, tables, and time value considerations to help you understand, and master, the complexities of commodity options trading

UPDATED & EXTENDED 2ND EDITION This practical book provides you with everything you need to be able to day trade grain futures effectively. It opens with chapters explaining the author's preference for the grain futures markets, and his reasons for preferring to day trade, before going on to explain the fundamentals of trading and the more specific knowledge required for his chosen approach. In a concise, punchy style the reader is introduced to some timeless trading concepts, and shown how these ideas can be moulded into a trading system to attack the exhilarating grain markets. No sophisticated indicators or complex mathematics are found here. Instead, the author builds a system based on tried and true trading principles, combined with sound money management strategies. The particular challenge for a day trader during the volatile market open is to quickly identify support and resistance zones, and form a view on trend direction, based on limited information. The author describes how he does this, with detailed illustrations and real life examples. He then goes on to explain exactly how, based on the initial market movement, he determines stop loss and target levels. A key feature of the book is the chapter tracing the progress of a real life trading session. It shows the author's methods being applied in practice, with numerous screen shots giving the reader an understanding of what the trading process feels like in practice - effectively giving you a fly on the wall view of the author in action. Another highly illustrated chapter shows a complete month of trading charts with commentary on trades taken, giving the reader an appreciation of the longer term trading process. A process described by the author as "constant repetition of a simple plan, concentrating on implementation excellence". Other chapters outline the author's views on the need for practice, and discuss the practical points a home-based trader should attend to in their computer and internet set up. The book's focus is to highlight the exciting opportunities of grain futures and provide the vital detailed and hands-on information that will make it invaluable to all futures, equity, options or CFD traders.

Can private standards bring about more sustainable production practices? This question is of interest to conscientious consumers, academics studying the effectiveness of private regulation, and corporate social responsibility practitioners alike. Grabs provides an answer by combining an impact evaluation of 1,900 farmers with rich qualitative evidence from the coffee sectors of Honduras, Colombia and Costa Rica. Identifying an institutional design dilemma that private sustainability standards encounter as they scale up, this book shows how this dilemma plays out in the coffee industry. It highlights how the erosion of price premiums and the adaptation to buyers' preferences have curtailed standards' effectiveness in promoting sustainable practices that create economic opportunity costs for farmers, such as agroforestry or agroecology. It also provides a voice for coffee producers and value chain members to explain why the current system is failing in its mission to provide environmental, social, and economic co-benefits, and what changes are necessary to do better.