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by drexlspivey 1634 days ago
> I would argue that futures (and options) are still gambling.

And you would be wrong because those instruments were designed to hedge (reduce) risk. If you are a grain producer and you are worried that the grain price might go down before your next crop you sell a future to lock the price, if you are a flour mill and worry that the price will go up you buy a future.

Can all financial instruments be used for speculation? Of course, same as buying a ton of grain not because you need it but because you expect the price to go up.

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And you would be wrong because those instruments were designed to hedge (reduce) risk.

That tail now wags the dog. The futures markets in commodities are much larger than the actual markets.

This sounds like we have a new 2007 housing bubble.