In markets that trade natural products, such as agricultural, fishery, energy, and commodities markets, oversupply or at least excess supply causes problems. When supply is high, prices plummet, causing significant damage to producers; conversely, when supply is low, prices rise, and consumer sentiment diminishes. As a result, both suppliers and consumers suffer. The challenge is that it is difficult to intentionally set the level of production. Because of this, a futures market develops in situations where we have to accept what nature provides. Futures trading is a method in which a producer and a distributor agree in advance to trade the price of an item to be produced in the future, without knowing the exact quantity yet. In other words, in futures trading, the focus is on price rather than quantity. Since it is challenging to stock items that require freshness, futures trading offers advantages by allowing transactions to be made in advance. However, if supply fluctuates too much,...
Stocks represent trades that signify the future value of the present. The current price of a stock conveys insights about the company’s future. In essence, it involves the buying and selling of future potential. However, stock prices also reflect past performance. When a company announces its performance, it often includes disclosures about stock purchases and sales by major shareholders or executives. This practice has historical roots, but the public disclosure of such information now affects the stock’s current price. Time influences present value, whether it pertains to the past or the future. Ultimately, time is the most critical variable in asset valuation. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”