The Assets
Understanding Gold, Silver, Crude Oil, and Natural Gas. Learn contract specs, lot sizes, and market hours.
Start ModuleThe Mechanics
Futures vs Options. Learn about Expiry, Margin, M2M, and the danger of Leverage.
Start ModuleThe Engine
Fundamental Analysis. How War, Interest Rates (Fed), and Seasonality drive prices.
Start ModuleThe Navigator
Technical Analysis. Trend Following, RSI Traps, and Identifying High-Probability Setups.
Start ModuleThe Strategist
Execution & Risk. Intraday strategies (US Open), Swing setups, and the Math of Survival.
Start ModuleThe Professional
The Business of Trading. Taxation (Audit), Automating with Algos, and the 2026 Asset Guide.
Start ModuleThe FinMinutes Commodity Trading Masterclass: From Novice to Professional
Welcome to India’s most comprehensive, open-source guide to Commodity Trading, from day trading strategies to long-term investment.
If you are here, you have likely realised that the stock market is not the only game in town. While the Nifty and Bank Nifty fight for every point, a silent revolution is happening in the world of Gold, Silver, and Crude Oil.
In 2026, Commodities are no longer just “hedges” against inflation; they are the primary drivers of wealth. With Gold touching ₹1.42 Lakh and Silver crossing ₹3 Lakh, the MCX (Multi-Commodity Exchange) has become the battleground for the smartest traders in the country.
But the Commodity market is unforgiving. It operates 14 hours a day. It is driven by global wars, Fed interest rates, and OPEC decisions. It does not care about your technical indicators if a missile strikes a pipeline.
That is why we built the FinMinutes Academy. This is not a collection of random tips. It is a structured, 6-module university degree in trading, designed to take you from “What is a Lot Size?” to “Deploying Automated Algos.”
Why Commodity Trading in 2026?
Before you click “Start” on Module 1, you need to understand why you are here.
1. The Inflation Hedge
Equity portfolios are vulnerable. When inflation spikes, stock markets often crash because high interest rates hurt corporate profits. Commodities love inflation. Gold and Silver are real assets. When the value of money falls, the price of metal rises. By learning to trade MCX, you are building a lifeboat for your wealth when the stock market is sinking.
2. The Time Advantage
Stock markets open at 9:15 AM and close at 3:30 PM. For working professionals, this is impossible to trade. MCX stays open until 11:30 PM / 11:55 PM. This allows you to come home from your job, relax, and trade the “US Session” (starting at 6:00 PM IST) when volatility is highest. It is the perfect “Side Hustle” asset class.
3. True Diversification
Stocks are correlated. If HDFC Bank falls, ICICI Bank likely falls too. Commodities are independent.
- Gold moves on Fear and Dollar weakness.
- Crude Oil moves on Geopolitics and Supply chains.
- Natural Gas moves on Weather reports. You can be Long on Gold and Short on Crude Oil simultaneously.
Commodity Trading Curriculum, for day trading strategies to portfolio
This Masterclass is broken down into 6 distinct tiers. Do not skip them. Trading is a chain; if one link is broken, you will lose capital.
Module 1: The Assets
- The “Inventory”: You cannot run a shop if you don’t know what you are selling. We decode the “Big 4” (Gold, Silver, Crude, Gas).
- 2026 Reality Check: We explain why the “Mini” lot is no longer cheap and how the Silver Super-Cycle has changed margin requirements forever.
- The Hours: Understanding the specific personality of assets. Why you shouldn’t trade Natural Gas in the morning, and why Silver goes crazy after 5 PM.
Module 2: The Mechanics
- Futures vs. Options: The mathematical engine of MCX.
- The Leverage Trap: Understanding why paying 10% margin is a loan, not a gift.
- Mark-to-Market (MTM): The daily settlement process that kills small accounts.
- Expiry & Delivery: How to avoid the “Tender Period” nightmare where you are forced to take physical delivery of 1kg of gold.
Module 3: The Engine (Fundamental Analysis)
- The Drivers: Technicals tell you when to buy; Fundamentals tell you what to buy.
- The Dollar Index (DXY): The inverse relationship that rules the world.
- Data Reading: How to interpret US CPI Data, Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP), and OPEC Meetings without needing a PhD in Economics.
- Seasonality: Why Gold rises in November (Indian Weddings) and Natural Gas rises in December (US Winter).
Module 4: The Navigator (Technical Analysis)
- Trend Following: Why “Buy Low, Sell High” kills you in commodities (You should Buy High and Sell Higher).
- The Golden Cross: The specific moving average crossover that signals a multi-month Bull Run.
- RSI Traps: Why an “Overbought” signal in Crude Oil is actually a Buy signal during a war.
- Volume Profile: Finding the “Hidden Support” levels where institutions are waiting.
Module 5: The Strategist (Execution)
- The “US Open” Playbook: A specific, time-based strategy for capturing the 6:00 PM volatility explosion.
- Risk Management: The “1% Rule” and why recovering from a 50% drawdown is mathematically impossible.
- Pair Trading: How to trade the Gold-Silver Ratio to hedge against market crashes.
- Psychology: Dealing with “Tilt” and “Revenge Trading.”
Module 6: The Professional (Business & Tech)
- The Business of Trading: Understanding Taxation, Audit rules, and how to treat F&O losses.
- The Asset Cheat Sheet: A constantly updated reference for margins and lot sizes in the high-inflation era of 2026.
- Algo Bridge: A “No-Code” guide to connecting your TradingView charts to your broker (Zerodha/Angel) for automated execution.
- Retail Survival: How to trade with small capital (<₹50k) using Spreads and BULLDEX Options.
Who Is This Course For?
- The Frustrated Equity Trader: You are tired of gap-ups and gap-downs in Nifty that skip your stop loss. You want a market that respects global trends.
- The Working Professional: You have a 9-to-5 job and can only look at charts in the evening.
- The Hedger: You hold physical gold or have a jewelry business and want to protect your inventory value using Futures.
- The Algo Enthusiast: You want to deploy automated strategies on assets that trend for weeks, not minutes.
A Warning Before You Begin
Commodity trading is leveraged. In the Equity Cash market, if you buy Reliance shares for ₹1 Lakh and it drops 10%, you lose ₹10,000. You still own the shares. In Commodity Futures, if you pay ₹1 Lakh margin for a Silver contract (worth ₹15 Lakhs) and it drops 10%, you lose ₹1.5 Lakhs. You lose more than your invested capital.
This course is designed to teach you how to handle that fire without getting burned. We focus heavily on Risk Management because in Commodities, survival is the only metric that matters.
Commodity Trading Masterclass: FAQs
How much Minimum capital is realistically needed to start trading on MCX in 2026?
This is the most critical question. In Commodity Trading, if you want to trade Futures safely (e.g., Silver Micro or Crude Oil Mini), you need at least ₹1 Lakh. This covers the margin (~₹55k) and provides a buffer for drawdowns. If you have less than ₹50,000, do not trade Futures. You will be one bad trade away from a margin call. For small capitals (₹20k – ₹30k), stick to BULLDEX Options or Debit Spreads on Crude Oil options, as taught in Module 6.
In MCX, will I be forced to take physical delivery of Gold/Silver if I forget to sell?
This is a common fear, but in reality, your broker will prevent it from happening. MCX contracts enter a “Tender Period” 5 days before expiry. If you hold a position during this time, the margin requirement jumps to 25%, then 50%, then 100%. Most discount brokers (Zerodha, Angel One) will auto-square off your position 5 days before expiry to prevent you from getting trapped in the delivery process. Rule of thumb: Always exit your trades one week before the contract expires.
Can I trade Commodities if I have a full-time 9-to-5 job?
Absolutely. In fact, Commodities are better suited for working professionals than the Stock Market. The Indian Equity market closes at 3:30 PM, clashing with office hours. The MCX stays open until 11:30 PM (or 11:55 PM). The highest volume and best moves happen during the US Session overlap (6:00 PM to 10:00 PM IST). You can finish work, come home, and trade the most liquid hours of the day without disrupting your career.
Is Commodity Trading Profit considered “Speculative” like Intraday Equity?
No. This is a major tax advantage. According to Section 43(5) of the Income Tax Act, Commodity Derivatives trading is considered Non-Speculative Business Income. This means you can set off your trading losses against other business income (like rental income or freelancing), which you cannot do with speculative intraday equity losses. It legitimises trading as a business, not a gamble.
Why should I trade Silver or Crude instead of Nifty/Bank Nifty?
Two reasons: Trends and Manipulation. Indices like Nifty are often choppy and manipulated by local operators or DII flows. Commodities are global assets. The price of Gold is determined by the Federal Reserve, central banks, and geopolitics; it is too big for any single operator to manipulate. Furthermore, Commodities trend better. When a supply shortage hits (like a war impacting Oil), the trend can last for weeks, allowing for massive swing trading opportunities that indices rarely offer.
Do I need to learn coding to use the “Algo Bridge” mentioned in Module 6?
Not at all. The “No-Code” revolution has made algos accessible to everyone. Tools like Streak, NextLevelBot, or Sensibull allow you to build strategies using plain English logic (e.g., “Buy when RSI crosses 50”). You simply connect these tools to your broker with a single click. The “Bridge” handles all the complex API coding in the background. You just focus on the strategy.
Start Your Journey
The dashboard above tracks your progress. It remembers where you left off. There are no sign-ups. No fees. No “Premium Webinars” to upsell. This is FinMinutes. We believe financial literacy should be free, deep, and brutally honest.
Click on Module 1 above to begin. The market is open. Are you ready?