[brownsfan019]

Dinero - the chart setting really is up to you and your comfort level. I would suggest opening up at least 3 different chart settings and see what you like the best:

1) Volume Chart - something like 50-250
2) Range Chart - something like 4-15
3) Tick Chart - something like 30-100

The higher the number, the slower the chart will print new candles. From there, it's a comfort level. I personally like range charts on the ZS.

Watch them in real-time and see what you like. Just looking at static charts is misleading b/c you might not be noticing that there are bursts of candles printed and then not much, esp. on the open.

Lately I've seen the ZS pretty much head in 1 direction once it's decided what that direction is (and usually doesn't take too long). If you can get on the right side, can make some quick money as this bugger doesn't wait around.

Good luck and let me know how it goes and what you are seeing.

[suriNotes]

PowerShares Agricultural ETF (DBA), which is equal weighted in
Corn, Sugar, Soybeans and Wheat. It also has good trading volume.

Regards,
Suri

[jimbo61]

I new to this forum, but not the "Grains".
Here is some more food for thought on the Beans.
Look at Spread Trading "Old Crop/ New Crop".
I am setting up for the next run on the SN10/ SX10 once I see the seasonal lows kick in on the Seasonal Charts.
Just for an example, last years Old / New crop in beans was pretty profitable.
Late Dec 08 the Spread was near the ZERO line. By first week in July it was up in the 200's.
That is $50 per point, per contract. Nice run. Hope to do it again.

[brownsfan019]

Jimbo - thanks for posting. That was a lot to take in such a small post. If you could elaborate on the trade/setup, that'd be great. Pictures always work nicely.

[Mr. Bojangles]

Some initial observations on ZS from an equity index trader - not in any particular order:

1) The overnight (I'm in the us) trading seems to be very active. I assume Asian traders are actively trading ZS.

2) As a globex trader I assumed opening price gaps were a thing of the past. Not so with ZS. For some reason the CME designed this contract with a 2 hour and 15 minute time gap before the open outcry session.

3) Trying to figure out which contact month to trade (the high volume contract), I did some volume analysis on all the contract months going back to 1/1/09. The current Nov contract has/had the daily high volume going all the way back to the first day my data vendor has data for the Nov contract - 6/29/2009. During this time, the Sept nor the Aug contacts ever exceeded the Nov's volume. Is this typical or was there something special about the Nov contract this year?

thanks,
mr. bojangles

[brownsfan019]

Originally Posted by Mr. Bojangles »

Some initial observations on ZS from an equity index trader - not in any particular order:

1) The overnight (I'm in the us) trading seems to be very active. I assume Asian traders are actively trading ZS.

2) As a globex trader I assumed opening price gaps were a thing of the past. Not so with ZS. For some reason the CME designed this contract with a 2 hour and 15 minute time gap before the open outcry session.

3) Trying to figure out which contact month to trade (the high volume contract), I did some volume analysis on all the contract months going back to 1/1/09. The current Nov contract has/had the daily high volume going all the way back to the first day my data vendor has data for the Nov contract - 6/29/2009. During this time, the Sept nor the Aug contacts ever exceeded the Nov's volume. Is this typical or was there something special about the Nov contract this year?

thanks,
mr. bojangles

1) I suppose some overseas guys are trading afterhours. I only trade during pit hours.
2) And IMO that's why this thing will move on the open. There's built up interest while it's closed and that open gets it going quickly. I much prefer that over the 24 hours of the other globex products. I kinda wish everything was just open at 930am and closed at 415pm.
3) No idea.

[Mr. Bojangles]

I'm assuming there are some ZS specific economic reports to be aware of. Could you point us towards a good source to find what and when they are - a ZS economic calendar. As a minimum, to know when to step aside.

thanks,
mr. bojangles

[brownsfan019]

Originally Posted by Mr. Bojangles »

I'm assuming there are some ZS specific economic reports to be aware of. Could you point us towards a good source to find what and when they are - a ZS economic calendar. As a minimum, to know when to step aside.

thanks,
mr. bojangles

I pretty much focus on trading the first 30 mins or so of the ZS being open, so I'm not looking at any grain reports and what not. I'm in, out and wait till the next day to do it again.

With that said, if you swing trade this and/or invest in this, then I would do some serious homework on these markets before putting any real money at risk.