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What is a Futures Contract?

A futures contract, also known as a “future,” is an agreement to buy or sell an asset or security for a set price at a set date in the future. 

Futures allow traders to keep a finger on the pulse of various markets and potentially profit from making accurate estimations of how much an asset will be worth in the future. 

With a lower initial investment to trade similar markets on Wall Street, futures can be a good fit for traders who want to trade in and out of positions intraday. 

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Trade Global Markets with Futures Contracts

Futures trading encompasses a wide range of globally traded products that allow traders at all levels to speculate on the price of these dynamic markets. There are many diverse futures markets to explore, including:

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Index Futures Contracts

Ideal for capturing quick moves in stock market trends with low margin requirements and 24-hour trading opportunities.

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Energy Futures Contracts

Capitalize on price fluctuations in oil and gas, influenced by supply disruptions and seasonal demand.

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Metal Futures Contracts

Trade highly liquid assets like precious metals, driven by global economic events and trends.

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Cryptocurrency Futures Contracts

Tap into the high volatility of digital assets, providing trading opportunities with both rising and falling prices.

Trade Global Equity Markets with Stock Index Futures Contracts

Trade the E-mini S&P to speculate on the combined price of some of the largest stocks

The E-mini S&P 500 index futures (ES) are the most actively traded stock indexes in the world today. It allows traders of all levels to speculate on the combined price of 500 of the largest stocks trading on the U.S. stock exchanges. Benefits of trading E-mini S&P 500 index futures include the ability to: 

  • Easily go long or short based on your view of stock market performance
  • React quickly to trading opportunities and news before the stock market opens
  • Start small with Micro contracts and scale up your position
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Gain Nasdaq 100 Market Exposure by Trading E-mini Nasdaq Futures

The Nasdaq index is popular among traders and investors due to its high volatility, allowing traders easy entry and exit positions. E-mini Nasdaq (NQ) futures give traders the opportunity to: 

  • Diversify trading opportunities beyond just technology
  • Capitalize on price movements due to market volatility
  • Hedge a stock portfolio against potential market declines
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Access Trade Opportunities Within One of the Most Actively Traded Stock Indexes

If you're looking to trade one of the most established and quoted stock indexes in the world, the E-mini Dow index (YM) futures offer opportunities in a small group of large-value stocks. Additional details about the E-mini Dow: 

  • They are standardized exchange-traded contracts that represent the value of 30 of the largest stocks traded in the U.S.
  • It is often considered a safe haven for investors when economic conditions turn down
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Take Positions on Performance of the Russell 2000 Index

The E-mini Russell 2000 (RTY) is made up of 2000 smaller-capitalized stocks that are often considered innovators and disruptors in their field. The performance of this broad range of smaller companies can often be influenced by interest rates and overall economic conditions. Benefits of trading E-mini Russell index futures include the ability to:

  • Gain exposure to a diverse range of small-cap stocks through one trading instrument
  • Enjoy flexibility in trading with different contract sizes
  • Leverage potential with smaller contract size compared to other futures contracts
  • Speculate on price movements without owning physical assets
Learn More About E-mini Russell 2000
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Watch Daily Live Futures Trading

Join our livestreams each weekday as we prepare, analyze and trade the futures markets in real-time using charting and analysis tools.

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Intro To Technical Analysis

Learn to leverage technical analysis to target futures trading opportunities and identify trends using chart types, indicators and more.

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Develop The Trader In You

Get started on your path to learn how to trade futures through our introductory video series outlining the first steps in your trading journey.

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Trade at Reduced Costs with Micro Futures Contracts

Micro E-mini futures contracts are smaller, 1/10th size versions of the standard contracts, and offer a lower financial commitment for traders just getting started. These highly liquid instruments are available across a wide range of trading markets and can be traded for as little as $50 per contract margin when day trading.

  • Trade the most active and popular futures markets
  • Lower margins provide greater buying power*
  • Less capital requirements for traders just getting started
  • Better control and flexibility for position sizing and risk management.

Micro futures are an excellent entry point for new traders and allows more experienced traders better flexibility in trade sizing and risk management.

*Leverage also increases the risk associated with futures trading and only risk capital should be used for trading

Benefits of Trading Futures Contracts

Are you ready to trade futures contracts? Futures trading encompasses a wide range of globally traded products that allow traders at all levels to speculate on the price of these dynamic markets. 

It offers a robust combination of features and benefits that you cannot find anywhere else. Benefits of trading futures include flexible trade sizing, increased leverage, and tax advantages just to name a few. 

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Play Daily Market Action with Event Contracts

Place predictions on the top markets and profit when you are right. Event contracts from CME Group deliver a simple way to stake your views on market price moves.

Posted daily, event contracts are available for some of the world's most popular futures markets including the S&P, Nasdaq, Dow, metals, energies and currencies.

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Best Brokerage for Trading Futures

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Download NinjaTrader's award-winning software for FREE and see why it's consistently voted an industry leader by the trading community. NinjaTrader is always free to use for advanced charting, backtesting and trade simulation.

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Open a Futures Account and Become a Futures Trader Today

As your futures contract broker, NinjaTrader is here to help you every step of the way—create an account now to unlock your trading potential. Our platform, brokerage, and various support teams are standing by to ensure you make the most of your futures contract trading experience with NinjaTrader.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Futures Contracts

A futures contract, or a "future," is an agreement to buy or sell an asset or security at a predetermined price on a future date. The potential profit in futures is generated by the difference between how much the asset was agreed to be purchased for and how much the asset is worth on the purchase or sale date. Futures allow you to invest in the value of particular asset types, and they can profit from accurate predictions about the future worth of an asset or security.
Energy futures represent a financial instrument that allows for the trading of important energy commodities such as crude oil, natural gas, gasoline, and heating oil. These contracts are traded on a well-regulated exchange, with each having unique contract specifications for point value, expiration date, and delivery.
Metals futures are tradable contracts for many of the most critical precious and industrial metals utilized worldwide. Metals futures contracts in gold, silver, copper and others represent an agreement to buy or sell at a specific price for a stipulated expiration date and every futures market has a unique set of contract specifications.
At one-tenth the size of the standard E-mini futures contract, micro futures are an easy entry point into futures trading for all account sizes. Micro contracts offer seasoned futures traders a way to increase their trading flexibility and better manage risk. E-mini micro contracts are offered in a variety of markets. Here are some examples:
E-mini major market stock index futures are financial instruments designed for the buying or selling of the most popular stock market indices, including the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, Dow 30 industrials, and the Russell 2000. Traded on the CME exchange, these cash-settled futures have their own distinct set of contract specifications such as point value, expiration date, and minimum price movement.
The E-mini S&P 500 index futures are well-known for being among the most frequently traded stock index futures in the United States. This market enjoys a high volume of trading both domestically and globally, marking it as a key indicator of the overall state of the US stock market. Moreover, the Nasdaq 100 futures are also extensively traded, encompassing some of the biggest and most influential technology companies.
Futures contracts and forward contracts are very similar in that they both involve two parties agreeing to sell and purchase an asset or security at a fixed price at a set date in the future. However, they have some key differences. A forward contract is a private agreement between two parties that resolves once the asset or security has been bought/sold. With forward contracts, there is great flexibility, little oversight, and a high amount of counterparty risk. On the other hand, futures contracts are standardized agreements that resolve on a day-to-day basis until the contracts end, allowing for more liquidity. Additionally, futures contracts are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). CFTC regulation helps protect investors from fraud and other risks to their accounts.