Quote from traderTX:
As a trader AND as an owner of a grain farm...I do not think this would help the markets AT ALL.
Liquidity, while it does cause more volatility, is IMPERATIVE in order to better hedge the product. While I would love to have someone (speculators..of which I am one) to blame for MY bad pricing decision when selling corn or wheat, it is just that...MY decision. I would hate to see what the market liquidity would be if only "producers and end users" were able to trade those markets....it damn sure would NOT make mine and other farmer's hedging job any easier, because now not only do we have to decide on a price, but we have to find someone to take the other side of the trade. You want to see violent market moves...go to the markets with NO liquidity...just look at Sep OJ yesterday....THAT is what low liquidity gets you...Bammers the Magnificent and his socialist nutjob cronies can shove it up their arse!!
The liquidity you're referring to is artificial because it exceeds the total production of the underlying commodities. If anything, that increases volatility because it allows prices to get pushed far in excess of what it would be if the players had to produce or accept delivery of some of the contracts they bought or sold.