Futures

Stock index futures, such as the S&P 500 E-mini Futures (ES), reflect expectations for a stock index’s price at a later date, based on dividends and interest rates. Index futures are two-party agreements that are considered a zero-sum game because when one party wins, the other loses, and there is no net wealth transfer. While […]

Cotton futures are traded on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and are available for electronic trading through Schwab. To trade cotton futures, you’ll need a futures account that has been approved. Cotton futures are exchanged in what way? Cotton futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts in which the contract buyer agrees to accept delivery of a particular

Dow futures are commodity deals with predetermined prices and delivery dates. They allow investors to forecast or speculate on the future value of stocks before the market opens. What can we learn from Dow futures? Dow futures are commodity deals with predetermined prices and delivery dates. Prior to the opening bell, they allow investors to

What happens on the other side of the world can influence markets in a global economy. This could be one of the reasons why the S&P 500, Dow 30, and NASDAQ 100 indexes open with a gap up or down. What does an increase in futures mean? Stock index futures, such as the S&P 500

Index futures prices are frequently a good predictor of opening market direction, but the signal is only valid for a short time. The opening bell on Wall Street is notoriously turbulent, accounting for a disproportionate chunk of total trading volume. The market impact can overpower whatever price movement the index futures imply if an institutional