Trading Commodities Using Derivatives

A practical introduction to trading commodities using derivatives, covering futures, options, swaps and structured products across energy, metals and agricultural markets.

About the Trainer

Steve McGann

Steve McGann is a highly experienced capital markets professional with over 20 years of expertise in designing and delivering specialist financial training across global markets. His in-depth knowledge spans money markets, foreign exchange, bonds and fixed income, equities, commodities, derivatives, portfolio management and investment strategy. He has delivered training to a wide range of institutions worldwide, combining technical depth with practical market insights. Steve’s training portfolio covers Bonds and Bond Risk, Commodities and Commodity Trading, Equities and Equity Markets, Foreign Exchange and FX Products, Money Markets and Interest Rate Risk, Fund Management, Derivatives and Derivative Trading, Technical Analysis and Portfolio Risk Management. He also develops bespoke capital markets programmes tailored to client-specific objectives. Before establishing his training career, Steve held senior front-office roles in major financial institutions. As Director of Bond Sales at Chase Investment Bank, he gained first-hand expertise in pricing and selling structured bonds, swaps and options. At Tullett and Tokyo, he established and managed a fixed income desk, arbitraging across bonds, futures and money markets for institutional clients. His work included creating customised hedging solutions for fund managers and institutional investors, leveraging deep market knowledge to align with client strategies. Steve’s career also includes treasury experience within a savings and mortgage institution, further enhancing his practical understanding of balance sheet management, liquidity and interest rate risk. His unique blend of trading-floor experience and training delivery ensures his courses are not only technically robust but also grounded in the realities of financial markets.

Trading Commodities Using Derivatives

Commodity markets are among the most dynamic and globally interconnected financial markets. Prices of energy, metals and agricultural products move constantly in response to supply disruptions, weather events, geopolitical developments and changes in global demand.

This practical course introduces how derivatives are used to trade commodities and manage commodity price risk. Participants will explore futures, options, swaps and structured products across major commodity sectors, including crude oil and natural gas, precious and base metals, and agricultural commodities.

Through real-world examples and market scenarios, the course examines how derivative instruments can be used to hedge price risk, take directional trading views, manage inventory exposures and structure financing solutions.

The programme also provides an insight into how commodity markets operate in practice, including the role of exchanges, OTC markets and major trading institutions.

Key Topics

  • Introduction to commodities and their price risks
  • The basics of trading commodities
  • Commodities and the impact of ESG
  • Energy markets
  • Base metals
  • Precious metals
  • Agricultural commodities
  • The basics of trading with technical analysis

Practical Focus

The course uses real-world examples and market scenarios to explore commodity trading, derivatives, price risk and hedging approaches across global commodity markets.

Interested in attending this course?

Register your interest or contact IFFERMA for further information about availability, registration and course arrangements.