Macro Trader’s Guide to Futures Trading

(This is a long read…. take your time and digest each section… you will thank me later)

Trading global macro themes through futures can be both intellectually rewarding and financially lucrative. Unlike single-stock trading, macro-focused futures trading involves synthesizing big picture economic trends across currencies, interest rates, equities, and commodities. This guide is designed for retail traders with intermediate experience who want to elevate their craft in global macro futures trading. We will explore the key hard skills from macroeconomic analysis and intermarket dynamics to the mechanics of futures and strategy backtesting as well as the essential soft skills such as emotional discipline and routine that distinguish successful macro traders. Along the way, we’ll break down foundational and advanced macroeconomic concepts (like monetary policy, yield curves, and inflation) and highlight must-read books by renowned macro investors. The focus is on practical knowledge tailored to the futures market structure and retail-accessible products (like CME Micro futures and popular FX futures), empowering you to trade macro themes with confidence.

Paid subscribers get full access to trade ideas, macro context, and ongoing updates… plus entry into the members-only Discord server for deeper discussion on trades and all things markets.

For those on the Premium+ (Annual) tier, you’ll also get a couple of calls each month and exclusive access to additional content and setups.

Link to join (discord room) - DM me to approved once paid for access

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Table of Contents:

Hard Skills for Macro Futures Trading

1. Macroeconomic Analysis
   Learn how to interpret inflation, employment, and interest rate data to anticipate market-moving themes.

2. Intermarket Relationships (Cross-Asset Analysis)
   Understand how equities, bonds, FX, and commodities move together or apart.

3. Futures Mechanics & Market Structure
   Master micro futures, leverage, rollover, and how contracts really work.

4. Technical Analysis & Charting
   Use price action, patterns, and momentum to time entries in a macro framework.

5. Backtesting & Data Analysis
   Build confidence in your ideas using historical cycles, trade data, and testing strategies.

6. Risk Management
   Discover frameworks used by pros to protect capital and size bets for asymmetric payoff.

Soft Skills and Trading Psychology

1. Emotional Control & Discipline
   Build the mindset to stick to your process in volatile, uncertain conditions.

2. Decision-Making Under Uncertainty
   Learn to act with conviction even when the data is messy or incomplete.

3. Journaling and Self-Review
   Turn your trade history into your greatest teacher through structured reflection.

4. Routine and Process Discipline
   Create a daily and weekly structure that mirrors institutional best practice.

5. Patience and Adaptability (Bonus Skill)
   Hold for the big move or pivot fast when the macro regime shifts.

Key Macroeconomic Concepts for Traders

• Monetary Policy & Interest Rates
  Grasp how central banks move markets and how to trade rate expectations.

• Yield Curves & Economic Cycles
  Read the curve to spot recessions, reflation, and shape trades accordingly.

• Inflation & Growth Metrics
  CPI, PMIs, GDP and more know what drives assets and surprises traders.

• FX Fundamentals
  Trade currencies with insight into rate differentials, trade flows, and risk sentiment.

• Global Risk Sentiment & Safe Havens
  Read the VIX, bond flows, and safe-haven rotation like a macro fund.

Must-Read Books & Macro Mentors

• Books that will change how you see markets