Customer Reviews

Fundamentals of the Futures Market

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3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
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Most "investment advice" books suffer from poor editing, both of the 'grammar & syntax' variety, and, more distressingly for this genre, flat-out incorrect information. Klines's book is no exception- the grammar & syntax are fine, but her book is replete with factual errors and misstatements. For example, on page 207, she defines a synthetic long futures as "sell a call option, buy a put option." Wrong. That is a synthetic short position. Similar errors pervade the book.
One useful feature is chapter 3, which presents futures contract specifications. However, even here, some of the information is occasionally confusing or misleading.
This book is published by McGraw-Hill, a highly reputable house. My surmise is that McGraw-Hill has no financial experts on its editorial staff; otherwise, it wouldn't tolerate the publication of such a sloppily-edited piece. Disappointing!

If you are new to trading, or are interested in learning about the futures markets, then you will not be disappointed with this book. I was definitely impressed with the amount of market information that it covered. The History of the Futures markets, fundamental & technical analysis, mechanics of the trading floor, margins, interpretation of news, are all explained. In addition, it contains a great section on trading techniques for each specific commodity market. This would make a great reference textbook for seasoned traders and brokers as well. I would definitely recommend this book.

Anyone who watches Donna Kline on Bloomberg Television knows she's the authority on futures and credit markets, a knowledge she shares in Fundamentals of the Futures Market. Written for those with some experience in financial markets, Fundamentals of the Futures Market takes the reader step-by-step through the process of evaluating, buying, and selling futures. The book traces the history of financial markets and the development of futures trading, defines the key terms, and outlines the external factors -- from the economy to the weather -- that affect futures prices. Drawing on her years of experience in and around the trading pits, Kline also offers tips for traders and dealers. It's full of practical advice, leavened with humor and clear cautions about the dangers inherent in trading. Buyers, brokers, and those who follow the futures markets should keep this handy reference nearby.

Utilizing her years of experience as a floor broker and expert futures market commentator (Bloomberg TV), Donna Kline successfully addresses a broad array of futures related topics in a pragmatic and succinct manner that is easy to absorb. Whether you are an experienced trader, or more importantly, a neophyte to the futures market, Donna Kline's "Fundamentals of the Futures Market" is an ideal primer.

"Fundamentals of the Futures Market" is an excellent addition to any intelligent investor's library collection and further validates Donna Kline's status as a maven within a market known for nebulous and sometimes treacherous trading conditions.

After many years of searching, I have finally found the futures book that I have been hoping for. As a trader and market strategist on Wall Street (I frequently appear on financial television stations such as Bloomberg-TV), I have been looking for a book that includes many of the essentials of the futures market covered in Donna Kline's "Fundamentals of the Futures Market. Donna Kline's book is exceptional because it covers so much ground in a way that is easy to absorb. This is important when talking about a market as complex as the futures market. Kline's book is a must for anyone interested in futures and is fit for the beginning and expert trader. I have not seen a better book on the futures market.

This is a very good book if you are looking for a career in futures. Whether you will be a trader or a broker, there is a ton of helpful information inside that you can't find anywhere else. There is an entire chapter called 'Tips of the Trade' that walks you through some of the nuances and quirks of markets like soybeans and the E-mini S&P. The book explains how to determine the future expectation of interest rates by using the Fed Fund futures. There is information on how margins work and an entire section on options. The part that I found to be most unique is the discussion of order placement - where mistakes often occur and how to prevent them. I recommend this book to anyone who is getting started in the futures industry.

Not so well written, a little manual-like and hard to read.
Written for the beginner it tries to cover too much but misses out some important basic information.
Have read many books on trading and had hoped to fill-in the details on the futures area fundamentals. Have to look for another book now though.

I am new to futures trading and I found this book to be very helpful and easy to understand. It is well written and covers a wide variety of trading terms and techniques. I did notice a typo or two, but they are obvious and do not detract from the message of the text.

Excellent book covering a comlpex market. Ms. Kline's background is evedent by the way she brings simplicity to text. I wish I had this publication years ago. A must read for anyone who wants to understand the markets or make money. Hope this author continues with another. I loved it. I will recomend to all who want to make $.

Wow, is the only word i need to use. I thought I knew what I was talking about with the markets, and now I actually do. Ms Kline is so insightful and relevant to todays structures. I never put the book down... read it cover to cover... and now can deal in the markets with a whole new confident light.