Sobes.tech
Junior

What is a futures contract as a financial instrument?

sobes.tech AI

Answer from AI

A futures contract is a financial agreement that obligates the buyer to purchase, and the seller to sell, a specific asset (commodity, currency, securities) at a predetermined price and date in the future.

Main characteristics:

  • Allows hedging against price change risks.
  • Used for speculation on the change in the asset's value.
  • Traded on specialized exchanges.

Example: a farmer enters into a futures contract to sell wheat in 3 months at a fixed price to protect against falling market prices.