ABSTRACT

In the search for the Philosopher’s Stone more sweat and money have been put into the area of commodities and futures than were ever expended in the securities arena. There is a simple reason for this. Great fortunes are made and lost with much greater rapidity in the futures area than in securities. Of all the great dramatic moments in stock market history few are so memorable as the great Hunt silver market, or Soros facing off against the Bank of England, or of gold soaring to $1000 an ounce. And the saga continues in 2005. $50 oil? $60? $70? $100? And the effects, economic and psychological! In dimly lit garrets and brightly lit computer rooms thousands of researchers concoct systems to trade these markets — corn, soybeans, silver, copper...