Price Speculation:

• Futures enable investors to speculate on the future price movements of underlying assets. By taking long (buy) or short (sell) positions, traders aim to profit from anticipated price changes.

Leverage:

• Futures contracts provide leverage, allowing traders to control a larger position with a smaller initial investment. This leverage amplifies potential returns but also increases the risk of losses.

Standardized Contracts:

• Futures contracts have standardized terms and conditions, including contract size, expiration date, and delivery specifications. This standardization provides liquidity, transparency, and ease of trading in regulated futures markets.

Risk Management:

• Futures serve as effective risk management tools. Hedgers can use futures contracts to protect against adverse price movements in the underlying assets, thereby mitigating potential losses.

Margin Requirements:

• Trading futures typically requires posting an initial margin, which is a fraction of the contract’s total value. Margin requirements allow traders to gain exposure to larger positions while maintaining risk control.

Variety of Markets:

• Futures cover a wide range of markets, including commodities (e.g., oil, gold), stock indices, interest rates, currencies, and agricultural products. This diversity allows investors to access and trade in various sectors.

Price Discovery and Market Efficiency:

• Futures markets provide price transparency and real-time information, contributing to efficient price discovery. Prices in futures markets reflect market sentiment and supply and demand dynamics, facilitating efficient trading and investment decisions.

Contract Settlement:

• Futures contracts have a specific expiration date when contract obligations must be fulfilled. Settlement can occur through physical delivery (for certain commodities) or cash settlement based on the contract’s value at expiration.