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Futures contracts are used to transfer risk between different parties. An easy way to think of it is you sign a contract with the price of the stock that day as the price however you don't pay for the stock until a later date.
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Explain the difference between forward contracts and futures contracts?
Forwards Contract: A forward contract is the simplest of the Derivative products. It is a mutual agreement between two parties, in which the buyer agrees to buy a quantity of an asset at a specific price from the seller at a future date. The Price of the contract does not change before delivery. These type of contracts are binding, which means both the buyer and seller must stay committed to the contract. This means they are bound to deliver or take delivery of the product on which the forward contract was agreed upon. Forwards contracts are very useful in hedging Futures Contract: A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell an asset at a certain time in the future at a specific price. The Contractual terms of the futures contracts are very clear. The Futures market was designed to solve the shortcomings in the forwards contracts. Unlike forwards, futures are traded in organized exchanges. They also use a clearing house that provides the necessary protection to both the buyer and the seller. The price of the futures contract can change prior to delivery. Hence, both participants must settle daily price changes as per the contract values. Difference: Futures are traded in Organized Exchanges while Forwards are Over-The-Counter (OTC) traded
When you choose future contract over forward contract?
When there isn't an active market for the forward contract. Generally, Futures contracts have a much more active open market than forward contracts and have alot more choice in terms of expiration months than forward contracts.
What is the difference between a forward contracts futures contracts and options?
Forwards and futures are essentially the same thing: a commitment to buy/sell at a certain date for a certain price. The difference is in futures contracts you're also committed to sell a certain quantity, whereas in a forward you're not.An options contract gives you the option, but not the obligation, to buy or sell. This is great if you're working with stocks. If you have a futures contract to buy 500 shares of Coca-Cola for $10 per share on January 15 and Coke closed at $8 on January 15, you just lost a thousand dollars. If you were long on a put with the same spread between strike and stock prices, you made $1000.Forwards and futures have a purpose in life--IF you're dealing commodities with the intention to use them. You make frozen pies. You know you need ten tons each of wheat, sugar and apples. If you have a futures contract for October delivery on all of those commodities, you know what your pies' materials value is going to be, hence you can publish a good price for your pies. But futures speculators--investors who buy futures with the intent of selling the product after delivery, or the contract to a producer (there is a secondary market in futures)--have a long and proud history of losing their asses on these, so I recommend against them as an investment vehicle.
What are the similarities between a forward contract and afutures contract?
Forwards Contract: A forward contract is the simplest of the Derivative products. It is a mutual agreement between two parties, in which the buyer agrees to buy a quantity of an asset at a specific price from the seller at a future date. The Price of the contract does not change before delivery. These type of contracts are binding, which means both the buyer and seller must stay committed to the contract. This means they are bound to deliver or take delivery of the product on which the forward contract was agreed upon. Forwards contracts are very useful in hedging Futures Contract: A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell an asset at a certain time in the future at a specific price. The Contractual terms of the futures contracts are very clear. The Futures market was designed to solve the shortcomings in the forwards contracts. Unlike forwards, futures are traded in organized exchanges. They also use a clearing house that provides the necessary protection to both the buyer and the seller. The price of the futures contract can change prior to delivery. Hence, both participants must settle daily price changes as per the contract values. Difference: Futures are traded in Organized Exchanges while Forwards are Over-The-Counter (OTC) traded
What are the similarities and differences between forward and future contract?
Similarities:1. Both are derivative securities for future delivery/receipt. Agree on P and Q today for future settlement or delivery in 1 week to 10 years.2. Both are used to hedge currency risk, interest rate risk or commodity price risk.3. In principal they are very similar, used to accomplish the same goal of risk management.Differences:1. Forward contracts are private, customized contracts between a bank and its clients (MNCs, exporters, importers, etc.) depending on the client's needs. There is no secondary market for forward contracts since it is a private contractual agreement, like most bank loans (vs. bond).2. Forward contracts are settled at expiration, futures contracts are continually settled, daily settlement.3. Most (90%) of forward contracts are settled with delivery/receipt of the asset. Most futures contracts (99%) are settled with cash, NOT the commodity/asset.4. Futures markets have daily price limits.
Are futures contracts long term contracts?
They can be. If you look at the futures pricing, you'll see futures contracts that settle in 2013--and futures contracts that settle next month.
What is differences between currency future and currency future contracts?
"Futures" and "Futures contracts" are the same thing.
Are Dow Jones Futures future contracts?
Yes. Dow Jones Futures are future contracts. This is because future contracts practically do not have an expiration date. It is also good because of the fact you can buy and sell single or bulk stock futures.
What Commodity futures contracts can be bought and sold on the open market for reasons?
Futures contracts remain valid even if the original parties to the contract sell the rights.
Where to find some individual stock futures?
Single-stock futures In finance, a single-stock futures is a type of futures contracts between two parties to exchange a specified number of stocks in company for a price agreed today (the futures price or the strike price) with delivery occurring at a specified future date, the delivery date. The contracts are traded on a futures exchange
What is futures trading?
Futures trading is the buying and selling of contracts which require you to buy or sell an item on a certain date for a certain price. Most (very close to all) futures contracts are written against commodities rather than stock.
What is an example of a derivative product?
Derivative instruments are classified as: Forward Contracts Futures Contracts Options Swaps
Which stock is better gold or silver for trading?
If you are a hedger or a speculator, gold and silver futures contracts offer a world trade at centralized exchanges, trading futures contracts offers more financial.
Are options contracts referred to as future contracts?
No. Options let you decide whether to go through with the transaction; futures require that you do.
What is a futures executioner?
A futures Executioner is a person that completes contracts between a buyer and a seller for the price and delivery of the stock or goods at a future date.
What is open interest in futures market?
Open Interest is the total number of outstanding contracts that are held by market participants at the end of the day. It can also be defined as the total number of futures contracts or option contracts that have not yet been exercised (squared off), expired, or fulfilled by delivery.
Futures and options?
Futures are contracts that allows you to buy certain commodities at a certain price by a certain date. Unless closed out, futures contracts are binding and the buyer of the contract must be able to buy the commodities binded by the contract.Options are contracts that gives you the RIGHTS but not the OBLIGATION to buy certain stocks or commodoties at a certain price by a certain date. The main difference is, you can choose to ultimately buy the underlying asset or not, its not binding on the buyer.
