Untitled 1What is a Commodity?Commodities are actually physical items that can be handled, stored, and moved about. These are goods for which there is a commercial demand. Commodities include such items as corn, gold, and crude oil. They can be purchased and sold for immediate delivery, known as "spot" delivery, or promised by contract for future delivery. It is these contracts for future delivery that form the basis of the commodities trading market.What is a Future?In fact, what is traded in commodities trading markets is what are called futures or futures contracts. These have essentially the same features and effect as the forward delivery contract referred to above, but they are the embodiment of the exchange involved in commodities trading. These are traded in the commodities market through futures exchanges.Futures contracts serve an important and valuable purpose for purchasers of goods for use in production. A large commercial baker needing a bulk quantity of wheat at a certain time in the future wants to be sure of its availability. To ensure that availability, the maker can enter into a contract for its future delivery with a supplier. Price, quantity, and delivery are guaranteed by the contract, and the purchaser will pay contract price to complete the purchase.