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It is an agreement to buy or sell a standard quantity of a commodity or a security - such as gold, $US or bank bills of exchange - on a specific future date at an agreed price determined at the time the contract is traded on the futures exchange.
It is a binding contract, enforceable at law. Futures contracts are traded by open outcry on the floors of most futures exchanges, although the computer age has seen the spread of screen trading.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoA futures contract (thank you for not calling it a "future contract") is a deal where transfer of a certain amount of an item will take place for a set price on a set date. An example: buying a hard red wheat futures contract for May 11 delivery at $7 per bushel will cause 5000 bushels of hard red wheat to arrive on your loading dock on the 11th of May, and you'll pay $7 per bushel.
There's a similar contract called a "forward contract" that says you will sell for a certain price, but it can be as loosely or tightly written as you want. Forward contracts work better for farmers who don't know how many bushels of wheat they'll harvest, or when it will be ready.
Futures contracts are a good investment if you are a user of the commodity. Some people like to speculate by purchasing a futures contract, holding it until the settlement date is near, then trying to sell it to an end user. This isn't such a good idea--people lose lots of money on this.
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What statement best explains what a futures contract is?
A futures contract is a contract setting the price and date for a commodity purchase.
How do you purchase a futures contract?
You purchase a futures contract by first opening a futures trading account, which is a margin account, with a futures broker. Once that is done, simply choose the specific futures contract you wish to buy and then pay its "Initial Margin", which is a deposit needed to start a futures trade.
What type of company is the Commodity Futures market?
there are two types that are part of the commodity futures market. A normal futures market is one where the price of the nearby contract is less than the price of the distant futures contract. The other is an inverted futures market, the price of the near contract is greater then the price of the distant contract.
How many bushels of wheat in a futures contract?
A wheat futures contract covers 5000 bushels of whatever wheat (there are different kinds) is specified in the contract.
What type of market is the commodity market?
there are two types that are part of the commodity futures market. A normal futures market is one where the price of the nearby contract is less than the price of the distant futures contract. The other is an inverted futures market, the price of the near contract is greater then the price of the distant contract.
When did trading begin in foreign currency futures?
In 1972 it launched a contract in foreign currency futures.
How does trading futures differ from stocks?
One can own a stock, but trading futures requires one to contract for the futures. Buying stocks gives you ownership (or your own share) in a part of the company that you're buying into. Trading futures, one enters into a contract for a particular commodity instead of actually buying into it. You can then contract to be a buyer or a seller of that commodity.
Is a futures contract a type of options contract where you are either a seller of a call or a seller of a put?
A futures contract is different from an option contract: an option contract allows the buyer to choose to exercise the contract. A futures contract obligates you to do it. Example: You and I decide to buy calls on 100 shares of Acme stock at 22 with June 1 settlement date. You buy a futures contract, and I get an option contract. On May 27, Acme drops to 10 and stays there. On June 1, you must buy 100 shares of $10 stock for $22 per share. My option is out of the money, and I never exercise it. The "obligation" part explains why futures contracts on stock are very, very rare. Almost all futures contracts are written against commodities.
Who issues a index futures contract?
The E-mini S&P 500 index futures contract (ES) was introduced by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).
Explain the difference between a call option and a long position in a futures contract?
The only difference between a long call option and a long futures position is the derivative itself--one of them is an option, the other is a futures contract.
What best explains what a future's contract is?
A futures contract is a contract setting the price and date for a commodity purchase.
Explain the difference between a put option and a short position in a futures contract?
Well, the first difference is the root difference between a futures contract and an option contract: in a futures contract you MUST complete the sale at the end of the contract (if you didn't buy it back before the settlement date) but in an option you CAN.Once we're past that, the short position in a futures contract--the person who has the item the contract is derived from, such as a thousand bushels of wheat--is the same as the buyer of a put. Both of them have the thing now, and will transfer title to it after settlement or exercise.
