A forex future contract — also known as a currency future because it involves the relative values of international currencies — is a method of trading in the foreign exchange market. Traders essentially agree to complete a transaction, purchasing an amount of one foreign currency in exchange for an equivalent amount of another.
The trade is not carried out straight away. Instead, the contract establishes a period of time, after which the transaction must be executed. This is an obligation, and there is no way for a trader to change their mind once the contract is enacted. The contract will also specify the exchange rate, which will be locked in for the full length of the contract.
Movements in the exchange rate will be measured in pips. Pips in FX are incremental changes in price and can be in the upwards or downwards direction. If the trader is buying currency, they are hoping that the price will move upwards, as this means they are essentially buying this currency at a cheaper, earlier rate.
FX futures contracts are traded via forex exchanges, and they are standardised. This basically means that the contract parameters are predetermined ahead of time, and the trader simply chooses which contract they wish to use. The trader cannot make any changes to this contract or alter its terms and conditions.
We have already looked at what a futures contract is and what it does, but let’s examine it in more detail. Each contract includes the following information:
This last point, the maintenance margin, may require further explanation. The idea of the maintenance margin is simply to ensure that there are enough available funds to complete the transaction at the end of the contract period. This protects the other party in the event that money is withdrawn from an account or if funds are depleted for another reason.
Unlike spot trading, FX futures are derivatives. In other words, the value of the trade is derived from the underlying data. Spot trades are not derivatives, as they depend only on the current value of the currency, represented in real-time via the forex platform’s interface. This is the key difference between the two forms of trading.
Forex futures are contracts with a number of different parameters. They relate to a specific currency traded on the forex market, in the same way that spot trading does, but this is where the similarities end. With futures contracts, there are also pricing parameters and duration parameters — the contract will be active for a set period of time, and the value of the currency will be locked in for this time period. This removes some of the uncertainty of trading.
We’ve established that a forex futures contract is a currency derivative, but it is not the only type. When trading on the forex market, there are several other derivative choices to consider, each of which is different from an FX futures contract in its own specific way.
Forwards are arguably the most similar derivative to futures. Both forwards and futures involve currency values that are locked in for the duration of the contract, and both carry an obligation that the trade be completed once the contract reaches maturity. The difference lies in the customisation of the contract. Forwards are sold over the counter via a brokerage service and can be customised to meet the individual needs of traders. Futures, on the other hand, are standardised and are sold via exchanges — they cannot be customised or altered.
The main similarities between futures and options are the time component and the locked-in value. In both cases, the current spot price of the designated currency will be fixed for the duration of the contract. The main difference is that there is no obligation to complete the trade on an options contract, whereas the futures contract must be executed.
In forex, swaps are an agreement to exchange an amount of one currency for an equivalent amount of another currency. Interest is paid on the currency amounts and the trade is reversed once the contract reaches its endpoint. This set duration is the main similarity between swaps and futures, but the two derivatives are inherently different in almost all other ways.
There are a number of benefits of forex future trading that can make this type of derivative an attractive choice for those seeking to profit from their trade or use the forex market in another way. Bear in mind, however, that advantages and profits are not guaranteed, and there is always an element of risk when you are working with something as volatile as the forex market.
As forex futures are standardised, it is relatively easy for users to learn how to trade forex derivatives. This is different from a forex forward, for example, that will need to be customised — futures traders simply select the contract they wish to use in their trade. It still takes time to develop a strong trading strategy, but beginners may find the learning curve to be gentler than with other forms of derivatives.
The terms of the futures contract are set ahead of time, so there are no potential changes over the course of the contract’s duration. This provides an element of certainty and predictability — two things that can be difficult to find in the typically volatile foreign exchange market. It’s important to remember that this is not a guarantee that the trade will be successful, but at least the trader knows that the value of the currency is locked in while the contract is valid.
When traders open a futures contract, they know exactly what they are getting. They can see the currency they will be working with, they know precisely how long the contract will be open and they know exactly what currency exchange rate will be applied. All this information is immediately available and cannot be changed, so there is no ambiguity or uncertainty for traders.
There are a number of different use cases associated with FX futures. One of the simplest is simply to access a required amount of foreign currency at a future date, without running the risk of an unfavourable exchange rate further down the line. Other use cases include speculation — the trader agrees to buy a set amount of foreign currency in the expectation that the value will have appreciated by the time the contract expires — and hedging.
In hedging, the trader takes out a futures contract to offset potential losses in other trades, creating a robust and sophisticated trading strategy. Finally, futures may be used to analyse and assess exchange and interest rates affecting different currencies while remaining protected against sudden price movements in the short term.
Without leverage, small value movements on the forex market may not translate to significant profit for the trader. Leverage in FX effectively increases the trader’s exposure to these price movements, and in turn, increases the potential return. Of course, this also means the potential for loss is magnified too, which is why traders should use leverage with extreme care and keep leverage ratios low while they are still learning forex.
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