What is futures trading?

A futures contract is a legal agreement to buy or sell a specific commodity asset or security at a predetermined future price and date. When a futures contract expires, the buyer is obligated to buy and receive the underlying asset, and the seller is obligated to provide and deliver the underlying asset at the expiration date.

How does futures trading work?

Futures contracts allow traders to lock in the price of an underlying asset or commodity since they have predetermined expiration dates and set prices. When entering a trade, the trader does not need to provide the total amount of the contract’s value. Instead, the broker would require an initial margin amount.

Hedging and speculating through futures trading

StoneX’s expert traders pair deep understanding of global market dynamics with local intelligence to help our clients protect margins, manage volatility and increase profits.

The StoneX approach to futures trading

The worldwide market has never been more competitive, volatile or complex. Learn why clients trust us to execute their trading needs.

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Global access

With memberships to 40+ exchanges and offices located across 6 continents, StoneX connects clients to the global derivatives market. We partner with investors worldwide, offering us valuable insight into how unique geographical nuances play a role in the market. We trade futures in the following markets:

Agricultural
Currency
Energy
Financial
Metals

Explore our markets

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Managed futures program

StoneX’s veteran consultants have extensive experience in the alternative asset arena and are available to educate and assist investors in building a portfolio that will be a valuable risk management tool for true investment diversification. We utilize in-depth statistical research to help find the right combination of managers for a portfolio and provide reports to assist you in evaluating these traders on a daily basis.

Contact our managed futures team

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Advanced futures trading platforms

StoneX’s advanced technology networks allow clients to trade thousands of products over desktop, web and mobile platforms, and access institutional grade liquidity to execute their futures and options trading needs efficiently and effectively.

Learn more about electronic trading

Why trade futures?

Hedge

Futures contracts help our clients manage the future price risk of commodities in their operations or investment portfolios. If you have an existing position in a commodity or stock, a future contract can protect unrealized profit and minimize loss in a moving market.

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Speculate

For investors and traders who do not own the underlying commodity, futures contracts allow them to express an opinion about and potentially profit from the direction of the market for a chosen commodity. Traders and fund managers utilize futures to bet on the price of the underlying asset.

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Diversify

Futures trading provides our clients with direct market exposure to underlying commodity assets that are not typically found in other markets. StoneX offers a wide array of investments including metals, interest rates, indexes, oilseed, energy, grains and livestock.

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Leverage

The required initial margin amount with futures is typically set between 3-10% of the underlying contract value. This leverage gives our clients the potential to generate larger returns relative to the amount of money invested.

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Enhance liquidity

Futures are standardized and traded on regulated exchanges and increase the underlying trading volumes as a whole. Higher trading volumes create more opportunities to enter and exit trades.

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Consider options on futures

The StoneX futures team helps clients reduce portfolio risk by utilizing options on their futures contracts. This strategy enables our clients to diversify risk, hedge existing positions to limit risk or trade more volatile markets at a reduced cost.

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Upcoming events

October

8th StoneX Multicommodities Seminar

Webinars

South America

Language: Português Brasileiro

StoneX’s largest event, aimed at bringing together market analysis and experts to provide an up-to-date and strategic overview of key agricultural markets, as well as fertilizers, energy, foreign exchange, and macroeconomics.

Learn more

October

8th StoneX Multicommodities Seminar

Webinars

South America

Language: Português Brasileiro

Learn more

October

Sugar Breakfast StoneX

Live StoneX events

South America

Language: Português Brasileiro

A strategic event that brings together StoneX risk management consultants to foster networking, updates, and planning.

Learn More

FAQ

StoneX: We open markets

Our market expertise, advanced platforms, global reach, culture of full transparency and commitment to our clients’ success all set us apart in the financial marketplace.

Reach

With access to 40+ derivatives exchanges, 180+ foreign exchange markets, nearly every global securities marketplace and numerous bi-lateral liquidity venues, StoneX’s digital network and deep relationships can take clients anywhere they want to go.

Transparency

As a publicly traded company meeting the highest standards of regulatory compliance in the markets we serve; our financials and record of accomplishment are matters of public record. StoneX’s commitment to “doing the right thing over the easy thing” sets us apart in the industry and helps us build respect, client trust and new partnerships.

Expertise

From our proprietary Market Intelligence platform, to “boots on the ground” expertise from award-winning traders and professionals, we connect our clients directly to actionable insights they can use to make more informed decisions and achieve their goals in the global markets.

The subsidiaries of StoneX Group Inc. provide financial products and services, including, but not limited to, physical commodities, securities, clearing, global payments, risk management, asset management, foreign exchange, and exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives. These financial products and services are offered in accordance with the applicable laws in the jurisdictions in which they are provided and are subject to specific terms, conditions, and restrictions contained in the terms of business applicable to each such offering. Not all products and services are available in all countries. The products and services offered by the StoneX Group of companies involve risk of loss and may not be suitable for all investors. Full Disclaimer.

This website is not intended for residents of any particular country, and the information herein is not advice nor a recommendation to trade nor does it constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any financial product or service, by any person or entity in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation. Please refer to the Regulatory Disclosure section for entity-specific disclosures.

No part of this material may be copied, photocopied or duplicated in any form by any means or redistributed without the prior written consent of StoneX Group Inc. The information herein is provided for informational purposes only. This information is provided on an ‘as-is’ basis and may contain statements and opinions of the StoneX Group of companies as well as excerpts and/or information from public sources and third parties and no warranty, whether express or implied, is given as to its completeness or accuracy. Each company within the StoneX Group of companies (on its own behalf and on behalf of its directors, employees and agents) disclaims any and all liability as well as any third-party claim that may arise from the accuracy and/or completeness of the information detailed herein, as well as the use of or reliance on this information by the recipient, any member of its group or any third party.

The trading of commodities and derivatives such as futures, options, and swaps involves substantial risk of loss and may not be suitable for all investors. Advisory services as well as the trading of futures and options is available through various subsidiaries of StoneX Group Inc. including but not limited to the FCM Division of StoneX Financial Inc. Public Disclosures for the FCM Division of StoneX Financial Inc. The trading of over-the-counter products or swaps is available through subsidiary StoneX Markets LLC to individuals or firms who qualify under CFTC rules as an eligible contract participant. Please click here for the full disclaimer.

StoneX Financial Pte Ltd (“SFP”) (Co. Reg. No 201130598R) is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”) as a Capital Markets Service Licence holder (for dealing in capital market products), an Exempt Financial Adviser (for advising on investment products and issuing or promulgating analyses/ reports on investment products) and a Major Payment Institution (for domestic and cross-border money transfer services).

StoneX Financial (HK) Limited (CE No.: BCQ152) (“SHK”) is regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission for dealing in securities and dealing in futures contracts.

StoneX Financial Pty Ltd (“SFA”) (ACN: 141 774 727) holds an Australian Financial Service License (AFSL: 345646) for Dealing in Securities, Exchange-Traded Derivatives Contracts, OTC Derivatives Contracts and Foreign Exchange Contracts and is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

StoneX Securities Co., Ltd. (“SSJ”) (Co. Reg. No 010401047199) is regulated by the Japanese Financial Services Agency as a Type-I Financial Instruments Business Operator (Kanto Local Finance Bureau (FIBO)No.291’), is a member of the Financial Futures Association of Japan for dealing and brokering FX and FX Option transactions, and is a member of the Japan Securities Dealers Association for dealing and brokering stock indices and option transactions.