Mechanics of Futures Markets

2.
1
Mechanics of Futures
Markets
Chapter 2
2.2
Futures Contracts
Available on a wide range of underlyings
Exchange traded
Specifications need to be defined:
What can be delivered,
Where it can be delivered, &
When it can be delivered
Settled daily
2.3
Margins
A margin is cash or marketable securities
deposited by an investor with his or her
broker
The balance in the margin account is
adjusted to reflect daily settlement
Margins minimize the possibility of a loss
through a default on a contract
2.4
Example of a Futures Trade
An investor takes a long position in 2
December gold futures contracts on June 5,
before close of trading, say morning of:
contract size is 100 oz.
futures price is US$400
Initial margin requirement is US$2,000/contract
or US$4,000 in total
Maintenance margin is US$1,500/contract or
US$3,000 in total. Usually: MM=.75xIM
2.5
Possible Outcome: Futures price drops steadily, on 13 June
there is a margin call for $1,340, which must be paid by end of next trading day.
Margin call occurs when MAB<MM. Amount of margin call = IM -MAB. If
MAB>IM, investor can withdraw MAB-IM from margin account.

Daily Cumulative Margin
Futures Gain Gain Account Margin
Price (Loss) (Loss) Balance Call
Day (US$) (US$) (US$) (US$) (US$)
400.00 4,000
5-Jun 397.00 (600) (600) 3,400 0
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
13-Jun 393.30 (420) (1,340) 2,660 1,340
. . . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . .
19-Jun 387.00 (1,140) (2,600) 2,740 1,260
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
26-Jun 392.30 260 (1,540) 5,060 0
+
=
4,000
3,000
+
=
4,000
<
2.6
Other Key Points About Futures
They are settled daily
Closing out a futures position
involves entering into an offsetting
or closing trade
Most contracts are closed out
before maturity
2.7
Collateralization in OTC Markets
It is becoming increasingly common for
contracts to be collateralized in OTC
markets
They are then similar to futures contracts
in that they are settled regularly (e.g. every
day or every week)
2.8
Delivery
If a futures contract is not closed out before
maturity, it is usually settled by delivering the
assets underlying the contract. When there are
alternatives about what is delivered, where it is
delivered, and when it is delivered, the party with
the short position chooses.
A few contracts (for example, those on stock
indices and Eurodollars) are settled in cash
2.9
Some Terminology
Open interest: the total number of contracts
outstanding
equal to number of long positions or
number of short positions
Settlement price: the price just before the
final bell each day
used for the daily settlement process
Volume of trading: the number of trades in 1
day
2.10
Question: When a new trade is completed what
are the possible effects on the open interest?

Note that a transaction occurs when a long position is mated with
a short position, i.e. one entity buys and the other entity sells.

Open interest can rise by 1: This occurs when both long and short
positions are opening transactions.

Open interest can remain constant: This occurs when one
position is an opening transaction and the other position is a
closing transaction.

Open interest can drop by 1: This occurs when both long and
short positions are closing transactions.
Question: Can the volume of trading in a day be
greater than the open interest?
Yes, if there are a large number of scalpers or day
traders, who open and then close positions in a single
day, i.e. opening and closing trades occur on the same
day.
2.12
Convergence of Futures to Spot

Time Time
(a) (b)
Futures
Price
Futures
Price
Spot Price
Spot Price
2.13
Regulation of Futures
Regulation is designed to
protect the public interest
Regulators try to prevent
questionable trading practices
by either individuals on the floor
of the exchange or outside
groups
2.14
Accounting & Tax
It is logical to recognize hedging profits
(losses) at the same time as the losses
(profits) on the item being hedged
It is logical to recognize profits and losses
from speculation on a mark to market basis
Roughly speaking, this is what the
accounting and tax treatment of futures in
the U.S. and many other countries attempts
to achieve
Example: Hedger (taxed when profits realized) versus Speculator
(taxed on a marked-to-market basis). Same tax rate for both =
40%. Financial year is calendar year. Contract size is 1,000
barrels.
Sept07 opening transaction: long @ $68.30/barrel
Dec07 no transaction: $69.10/barrel
Mar08 closing transaction: short @ $70.50/barrel
Speculators taxes: for 07 are 40% (69.10-68.30)1000= $320;
for 08 are 40%(70.50-69.10)1000 = $560
Hedgers taxes: for 07 are 0; for 08 are 40%(70.50-68.30)1000
= $880

2.16
Forward Contracts
A forward contract is an OTC
agreement to buy or sell an asset at a
certain time in the future for a certain
price
There is no daily settlement (unless a
collateralization agreement requires it).
At the end of the life of the contract one
party buys the asset for the agreed
price from the other party

2.17
Profit from a Long Forward or
Futures Position
Profit
Price of Underlying
at Maturity
2.18
Profit from a Short Forward or
Futures Position
Profit
Price of Underlying
at Maturity
Forward Contracts vs Futures
Contracts (Table 2.3, page 39)
Forward Futures
Private contract between two parties Traded on an exchange
Not standardized Standardized
Usually one specified delivery date Range of delivery dates
Settled at end of contract Settled daily
Delivery or final settlement usual Usually closed out prior to maturity
Some credit risk Virtually no credit risk
2.19
2.20
Foreign Exchange Quotes
Futures exchange rates are quoted as the
number of USD per unit of the foreign currency
Forward exchange rates are quoted in the same
way as spot exchange rates. This means that
GBP, EUR, AUD, and NZD are USD per unit of
foreign currency. Other currencies (e.g., CAD
and JPY) are quoted as units of the foreign
currency per USD.

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