Futures
Last updated
Was this helpful?
Last updated
Was this helpful?
Was this helpful?
Futures contracts are financial instruments that allow buyers and sellers to agree on the purchase or sale of an asset at a fixed price on a specified future date.
These contracts are used for various purposes, including speculation (betting on price movements) and hedging (managing risk).
The underlying asset can be a commodity (such as gold, oil, or wheat), a security (like stock market indices), or other financial instruments.
Centralized Exchanges: Most futures contracts are traded on centralized exchanges, such as the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).
Settlement: Unlike options, which give the right but not the obligation to settle, futures contracts require investors to settle by either delivering the asset or offsetting the position before expiration.
Leverage: Futures provide leverage, allowing traders to control a larger position with a smaller amount of capital.
Expiration Dates: Futures contracts have specific expiration dates, after which they become invalid. Traders need to be aware of these dates.
Perpetual Futures: Some platforms offer perpetual futures, which don’t have an expiry date. Examples include certain cryptocurrency futures.
Risk Management: Futures allow hedging against price fluctuations. For instance, a farmer can lock in a price for their wheat crop.
Liquidity: Futures markets are highly liquid, enabling quick execution of trades.
Diverse Markets: Trade various assets—stock indexes, energy, currencies, cryptocurrencies, grains, and more.
Access to Leverage: Leverage amplifies gains (and losses), but use it wisely.
Overleveraging: High leverage can lead to substantial losses if not managed carefully.
Expiry Challenges: Traders must monitor and manage positions before contract expiration.
Market Volatility: Futures markets can be volatile, affecting both profits and losses.