CERTIFIED ONLINE COURSES
The Soft Commodity Trading
Life Cycle from A to Z
Where the goods move, why they move, who controls the process and how they operate
By Joshua HAWKINSSoft Commodity Trader & Economics Speaker
Discover the Trade Life Cycle and learn how Trading Firms operate
1. Intro: What is commodity trading?
2. Pre-trade: What needs to be done before signing a contract?
3. Trade is signed: Who steps in now?
4. Trade execution: Who executes the trade?
5. Trade settlement: What are the remaining steps?
COURSE OUTCOMES
Discover the key steps involved in a commodity trading firm’s operations.
Speak confidently about how the commodity market is changing and the challenges commodity traders face in the current market. Learn how commodity traders make profits and where potential opportunities lie. Gain a basic grounding in what space, time and transformation arbitrages are currently taking place in soft commodities. Even if you already work for a trading firm, this course explains each piece of the puzzle to give you a better understanding of the roles of others involved in the process and how you fit in.
SOFT COMMODITY LIFE CYCLE FROM A TO Z
Table of Contents
PART 1 (3h00)
What is commodity trading?
Soft Commodity Trading Jargon Buster Geneva as a Commodity Trading Hub Basics of Commodity Pricing – Commodity Pricing Mechanism Supply and Demand – Demand and Supply Driven Basis Risk and Pricing Forwards, Futures and Swaps ICE Nymex and the Exchange, Price Discovery, Forward Curves OTC Products versus Exchange Traded vrs Clearport Options and their Structures Commodity Assets – Upstream Commodity Assets – Midstream Commodity Assets – Downstream Commodity Trading Company Structures The Future for Commodity Trading CompaniesPART 2 (3h00)
Pre-trade and contract negotiation (including risks)
Role of Trader – Arbitrage in Space Role of Trader – Arbitrage in Time – Contango Markets Role of Trader – Arbitrage in Time – Backwardation Markets Role of Trader – Transformation Arbitrage Role of Trader – Physical Trading Role of Trader – Paper Trading Role of Trader – Option Trading strategies Role of Trader – Liquidity Risk facing Commodity Traders Bush to Fob Margin – Asset plays CIF to Shelf Margin – Marketing and Asset Plays Price Risk – Management of Risk Counterparty Risk Political and Legal Risk
PART 3 (1h30)
Contract is signed, trade confirmation (PnL, credits, liquidity management, operations)
Traders Role – Common Problems Contractual Agreements – Different Trading Terms Shipping Documents – Bills of Lading and LOIs Operational Risk Quality and Quantity Risk Payment Terms – Letters of Credit, CAD and CIA Accounting – Liquidity Management on Paper and Physical Trades Managing Credit ExposurePART 4 (1h30)
Trade Execution (logistics, payment, etc.)
Operators role – Common Problems Land Transport Chartering and Ocean Freight Terminal Port Issues and Agents Insurance Risk
PART 5 (1h00)
Post Trade (accounting, tax, finance, etc.)
Basel III and effects on Commodity Trading Companies Customer Financing Agreements Disputes and Arbitrations – RSA and Gafta Financing in a Commodity Trading Company Position Limits and VARsSPEAKER
Joshua Hawkins, Economics Speaker & Soft Commodity Trader
Trading is in Joshua Hawkins’s DNA, he comes from 5 generations of commodity traders. His family left England in the early 1800s and established Wise & Co a commodity trader in the Philippines where he grew up. He went on to attend Oxford University achieving a first class degree in Geography. From there he went on to join Louis Dreyfus Trading in London as a trainee graduating to trade Coffee, Sugar and Rice. He has also worked in shipping and oil with SwissMarine and Valhalla Marine respectively. He is now Soft commodity trader at Tereos (a large sugar industry player) Joshua Hawkins has another passion, education, being a qualified teacher he has also worked as a High School Geography and Economics teacher for extended periods. He is uniquely qualified to guide you through the world of commodity trading.“I learned the background and logistics behind commodity trading. It helped me connect the pieces together!”
Certified Courses
At the end of the course, attendees who achieve a score of 75% or higher will receive an AW Academy certificate from Ampersand World. This internationally recognised certification is aimed at those wanting to enter the world of trading and professionals seeking to boost their knowledge in this field. Pre-requisites: None.
FINAL QUIZ
You will pass this test at the end of your curriculum. The latter will be composed of questions, and will group the different notions approached in the course of your experience.
TIME
This program consists of about 8 hours of training courses and complementary quizzes. This time is our recommendation to get successfully certified.
Welcome to the Academy
AW ACADEMY® is an e-learning platform focused on physical commodity trading, shipping, trade finance
and all related domains and animated by Ampersand World.
LEARNING BY DOING
Our online courses that teach general and/or specific commodity trading skills in a “learning by doing” format. We believe that learning about commodities is more efficient through simulations and practical case in which each attendant has opportunities to practice trading fundamental directly.
UPGRADE YOUR TRADING SKILLS
Our online courses offers are targeted to people working in the world of trading or willing to learn more about this industry. This includes professional without trading experience, young graduate or HR specialists in the trading sector who would like to develop or up-date their trading skills.
PROFESSIONALS SPEAKERS
A unique feature of the AW ACADEMY® is that it is taught by a team of practicing speakers and other professionals who are selected not only for their professional reputation and accomplishment, but also to reflect the diversity of the trading profession.