📚 What Are Futures?
Futures are contracts to buy or sell something (like gold, oil, or the Nasdaq index) at a future date — but most traders don’t actually want to own those things. We’re here to profit off the price movements.
You can trade futures on:
Stock indexes like the Nasdaq (NQ) or S&P 500 (ES)
Commodities like oil (CL) or gold (GC)
Currencies and more
Futures are leveraged, meaning small moves can equal big profits — or big losses. That’s why discipline is everything.
💡 Why Trade Futures?
No PDT Rule – You don’t need $25K in your account to day trade
Open 23 hours/day – Catch setups in NY, London, or overnight
Leverage – Small account, big potential
Prop firms – Trade with their money, not yours
🧭 Futures Trading Basics You Need to Know
1. Ticker Symbols
Each contract has a name. I mainly trade NQ (Nasdaq Futures) because it moves fast and offers great setups for scalpers and day traders.
2. Contracts & Margins
One contract controls a lot of value. So always know your risk and use a stop loss.
3. Trading Hours
Futures open Sunday 6pm ET and run nearly 24 hours until Friday 5pm ET. The best volume is during the New York session (9:30am–11:30am ET).
4. Platforms
Popular platforms include NinjaTrader, Tradovate, and TradeStation. I also use Bookmap for reading order flow.
📈 How I Trade Futures (In Simple Terms)
I look for high-probability setups using:
Supply & demand zones
Anchored VWAP (a powerful way to spot where big money is positioned)
Volume confirmation
Price action & order flow from tools like Bookmap
I wait for price to reach key levels, confirm with volume and structure, and enter with a defined stop and target.
❗Tips for Beginners
✅ Start on SIM (paper trading) – Get reps in with no risk
✅ Track every trade – Learn from both winners and losers
✅ Don’t rush prop firms – Learn the game first
✅ Always use a stop loss
✅ Less is more – One or two setups done well will beat 10 random trades
🛠 Tools I Recommend for Beginners
TradingView – Charting
Bookmap (optional) – For order flow/volume insight
TopStep or Apex – Prop firms that give you capital if you pass a challenge
Notebook or digital journal – Track your growth daily
🚀 Ready to Begin?
If you’re serious about learning to trade futures, you’ve already taken the most important first step: you’re here. You’re learning. You’re building.
This blog, this website, and my journey are here to support you — whether you’re just starting or ready to take your first funded challenge.
Want to follow along, ask questions, or learn directly from what I’m doing?
👉 [Join my free Discord community here]https://discord.gg/UeM6jSrV
Let’s get better together, one trade at a time.
— Christopher Anthony | Boss Futures Traders
