5 Futures to Consider Trading in 2025
Looking at getting into futures trading but not sure where to start? We show you how, with Plus500.
Trading in futures and options involves the risk of loss and may not be suitable for every investor.
Futures are derivative products that let investors speculate on the future price of assets. You enter into a contract, agreeing to purchase or sell an asset on a specific date, for a predetermined price. Accordingly, futures trading is considered high-risk. Due to market fluctuations and the use of leverage, it’s possible to lose more than your initial investment.
But there are a number of reasons investors gravitate towards them:
- They’re highly leveraged, which enables greater control with a lower level of investment.
- They offer greater liquidity.
- You don’t need to own the underlying asset.
- They can be useful for portfolio diversification or hedging.
With this in mind, here are five key areas of interest for futures trading in 2025.
Start trading with Plus5001. Cryptocurrency
Though traditionally considered high-risk due to its comparative lack of regulation, cryptocurrency has also offered the potential for gains. This has led to growing mainstream investor interest over the last decade and a half. This is likely to grow in 2025, fueled by Bitcoin’s price hitting an all-time high. Additionally, news of Trump’s planned crypto reserve has generated considerable market activity.
2. Crude Oil
Although there has been an increased shift to alternative energy sources, crude oil still remains one of the world’s most heavily-traded assets. In addition to the sheer volume of trading, crude oil pricing levels tend to fluctuate heavily. A huge range of factors go into dictating the price of crude oil, including supply and demand, transport costs, peak body decisions, geopolitics and more. This has led to it becoming an attractive investment for speculators with a high risk tolerance.
3. Gold
Due to its practical applications across a range of industries and the ability to use it as a currency, gold is sometimes seen as a hedge against inflation. This means that it typically holds or increases its value during an economic downturn. Today, gold futures are often popular options for portfolio diversification for a number of reasons:
- Gold is considered to be less volatile.
- Owning gold futures circumvents some of the storage issues of owning physical gold (e.g. storage).
- High liquidity in comparison to other assets.
4. Forex
Forex is traditionally considered a riskier investment, and forex futures are no different. However, for investors with a high risk tolerance, forex futures can present considerable opportunities. Forex futures allow for 24-hour trading and can offer greater liquidity than traditional forex trading. Additionally, the ability to control larger investments with a relatively low initial investment is also a desirable feature.
5. Energy
Energy is a field that presents a wide range of opportunities for traditional and futures investors alike. The last few decades have seen heavy investment into renewable energy solutions. However, there is still a continued reliance on fossil fuels and natural gas. This has meant that energy futures investment has offered a blend of stability and volatility for investors. When risk is mitigated effectively, energy futures can be an effective way to diversify a portfolio.
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Trading in futures and options involves the risk of loss and may not be suitable for every investor.