What is a Contract In Stocks? When you trade stocks, you’re entering into a contract. This contract defines the price of the security and the rights of both the buyer and the seller. The type of contract you enter depends on the market you’re trading and your personal preferences. Here’s a brief overview of the different types of stock contracts.
What Is a Contract In Stocks: Options Contracts
Options contracts are agreements that give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a specified price within a certain time frame. These contracts have been used for centuries to hedge against risks associated with commodity prices, foreign exchange rates, and interest rates.
The development of exchange-traded options markets began in the 16th century, with forward contracts traded on the Antwerp commodity exchange. By the end of the 17th century, options were actively traded on the Amsterdam and London commodity exchanges. Despite this long history, options trading remained a relatively esoteric activity until the mid-19th century.
The first options exchange in the United States was the Chicago Board Options Exchange, established in 1973. The growth of the options market was spurred by the development of efficient pricing models and the introduction of new types of options contracts. Today, numerous options exchanges exist worldwide, including the CBOE, NYSE Arca Options, Nasdaq Options Market, BATS Options, and MIAX Options.
What Is a Contract In Stocks: Forward Contracts
A forward contract is an agreement to buy or sell an asset at a specified price on a specified date in the future. Forward contracts are used to hedge against price fluctuations in volatile markets. Unlike options contracts, which give the holder the right but not the obligation to buy or sell an asset, forward contracts are binding agreements.
The first forward contract was traded between a merchant and a farmer in the 18th century on the London Exchange. The farmer wanted to hedge against the risk of a decline in the price of wheat, while the merchant wanted to lock in a price for wheat he planned to purchase in the future. The forward contract allowed both parties to trade without having to take on the price risk associated with the underlying asset.
Today, forward contracts are traded worldwide on exchanges and Over-The-Counter (OTC) markets. The size and complexity of forward contracts have increased significantly since their inception, with some contracts now involving billions of dollars worth of underlying assets.
What Is a Contract In Stocks: Futures Contracts
A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell an asset at a specified price on a specified date in the future. Futures contracts are used to hedge against price fluctuations in volatile markets. Like forward contracts, futures contracts are binding agreements.
The first recorded futures contract was traded in 1710 on the Dojima Rice Exchange in Japan. The contract was for delivering one koku (approximately 180 liters) of rice in December of that year. Futures contracts were first introduced to the United States in 1851 when the Chicago Board of Trade (now the CME Group) began trading futures on agricultural commodities.
Today, futures contracts are traded worldwide, including the CME Group, the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), and the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM). Futures contracts have evolved significantly since their inception, with some contracts now involving billions of dollars worth of underlying assets.
Swaps
A swap is an agreement between two parties to exchange one asset for another at a specified price on a specified date. Swaps are used to hedge against price fluctuations in volatile markets. Unlike forward and futures contracts, which are binding agreements, swaps are typically non-binding agreements.
The first recorded swap was traded in 1609 between the Dutch East India Company and a group of English investors. The swap was for the exchange of a fixed interest rate for a floating rate of interest. Swaps were first introduced to the United States in 1981 when IBM and the World Bank entered a swap agreement.
Today, swaps are traded worldwide on exchanges and Over-The-Counter (OTC) markets. The size and complexity of swaps have increased significantly since their inception, with some contracts now involving billions of dollars worth of underlying assets.
Cash Settled vs. Physical Delivery
The first thing to know about stock contracts is that they can be either cash settled or physically delivered. With a cash-settled contract, you simply receive or pay the difference between the opening and closing price of the security. So, if you buy a stock for $100 and sell it for $105, you would receive $5. With a physically delivered contract, on the other hand, you would receive the stock itself (or deliver it if you were selling).
Generally speaking, most markets are cash-settled. This includes the major U.S. exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq. However, there are some exceptions—most notably in the futures market. Futures contracts are almost always physically delivered because they represent an obligation to buy or sell a security at some point in the future. For example, if you buy a futures contract for 100 shares of Apple stock to be delivered in December, then come December, you will either have to deliver 100 shares of Apple stock or buy them on the open market and deliver them to the person you made the contract with.
Monthly vs. Weekly vs. Daily Contracts
Another thing to know about stock contracts is that they can be traded either monthly, weekly, or daily. A monthly contract expires on the third Friday of every month and represents an obligation to buy or sell a security at its current price on that day. A weekly contract expires every Friday and represents an obligation to buy or sell a security at its current price on that day. Finally, a daily contract expires at the end of each trading day and represents an obligation to buy or sell a security at its current price.
Spot Market vs. Limit Order Market
Another critical distinction among stock contracts is whether they trade in the spot or limit order market. The spot market is where securities are traded immediately at their current prices—no matter how high or low those prices may be. The limit order market, on the other hand, is where trades are only executed if certain conditions are met—namely, if the price falls within a certain range that has been specified by either the buyer or seller (or both).
As you can see, there are many types of stock contracts, each with unique features and characteristics. The type of contract you trade will ultimately depend on your preferences and specific market conditions. Understanding all your options is essential to making informed decisions when trading stocks.
Summary: What Is a Contract In Stocks
In short, a few different types of stock contracts can be traded, depending on the market conditions and your preferences. The two most important distinctions among stock contracts are whether they are cash-settled or physically delivered, and trade in the spot market or limit order market. It’s essential to understand all your options before making any trades.
Learn More
Maurice Kenny has helped over 600 people become financially free through one-on-one coaching, mentorship, and options trading strategy. Many of these new traders are now full-time traders, and they all started by watching his 1-hr webinar.
Feel free to check out other FREE educational resources to help guide you as you begin your new journey to financial freedom.
Also, download a (FREE E-BOOK) by Maurice Kenny, “DAY TRADE LIKE A MILLIONAIRE.”
