LEARN FUTURES TRADING

MODULE 2 – Beginner

Lesson 1: Margin and Leverage Trading Futures

A proper understanding of all different margins, leverage, tick and point value for each instrument is crucial for trading Futures professionally.

In this lesson, we will explain the key terminology based on various case studies. We will explore the concept of margin and leverage for all individual Futures instruments. We also include sample exercises to help you practice your skills.

Lesson 2: Futures Contract Symbols

How to get a Futures symbol for a chart? Futures symbols consist of three components and are used to identify the particular instrument, the contract month and year.

We will show you how to use the right symbol for your specific requirements. For instance, you will learn that you require a different symbol for charting purposes vs. placing a trade on the same instrument.

Lesson 3: Rollover

As a Futures trader, we have to understand when and how to move a position from one contract to another liquid contract further in the future. Futures contracts have a limited lifecycle that will affect the result of your Futures trades and exit strategy. The central terms for that are expiration and rollover.

In this lesson, we will focus on the central terms and apply the learnings in the live market environment.  We will explain and showcase how to roll over futures contracts to switch from a contract that is close to expiration to another contract in a further-out month.

Lesson 4: Lifecycle Characteristics

Futures contracts are an obligation between buyers (to take delivery) and sellers (to deliver) of the underlying asset. Therefore, any contract must settle and also expire.

In this lesson we will introduce you to the most important date for Futures traders: The first notice date. On that date you put on notice that expiration is nearing. You must trade to close out of the expiring contract or offset the position. 

We will highlight specific lifecycle characteristics of widely traded instruments and associated standard procedures. We will explain specifics peculiar to Futures contracts in regard to lifecycle.

Lesson 5: Futures Contract Cheat Sheet

When you trade the complex world of Futures, you have to be very mindful. Knowing all specific symbols, contract months, tick and point values from the top of your head can be overwhelming in the beginning.

We make life easy for you by providing a “Futures contract cheat sheet” that has all critical data for all instruments on one single sheet. In this lesson, we will explain how to incorporate this handy guide in your daily trading routine.