In finance, futures are standardized contracts to buy or sell an asset at a fixed price on a specific date in the future. They are traded on organized exchanges (like the Chicago Mercantile Exchange).
The buyer agrees to purchase the asset at the set price on the expiration date.
The seller agrees to deliver (or settle) the asset at that price, regardless of what the market price is then.
Underlying asset: can be commodities (gold, oil, wheat), financial instruments (stocks, bonds, currencies), or even indexes (S&P 500).
Standardized: quantity, quality, and delivery date are fixed by the exchange.
Obligation: unlike options, both parties are bound to fulfill the contract.
Settlement: can be physical delivery (rare in practice) or cash settlement (more common).
Hedgers → farmers, airlines, or investors who want to lock in prices and reduce risk.
Example: An airline buys oil futures to secure fuel costs months ahead.
Speculators → traders who bet on price movements to profit.
Example: A trader buys gold futures expecting the price to rise.
Arbitrageurs → exploit price differences between markets for risk‑free profit.
Provide price discovery (markets signal what people expect prices to be in the future).
Offer risk management (hedging against volatility).
Add liquidity to financial markets.
An option is a financial contract that gives the buyer the right — but not the obligation — to buy or sell an underlying asset at a fixed price (the strike price) within a certain time frame. The buyer pays a premium for this right.
The seller (writer) of the option has the obligation to fulfill the contract if the buyer chooses to exercise it.
Call option → right to buy the asset at the strike price.
Used when you expect the price to go up.
Put option → right to sell the asset at the strike price.
Used when you expect the price to go down.
| Feature | Futures | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Obligation | Both parties must transact at expiry | Buyer has right, not obligation |
| Upfront cost | No premium (just margin) | Buyer pays a premium |
| Risk | Unlimited for both sides | Buyer’s risk limited to premium; seller’s risk can be large |
| Use | Hedging, speculation | Hedging, speculation, income strategies |
Investors hedge against losses (e.g., buying a put option to protect a stock portfolio).
Speculators bet on price moves with limited risk.
Traders design strategies (like spreads, straddles) to profit from volatility.
🕊️ Scroll Thought If futures are promises carved in stone, options are doors left ajar — you may walk through, or let them close with only the cost of the key.
Would you like me to also give you the Spanish equivalents (opciones de compra = call, opciones de venta = put) so you can carry this into your bilingual scrolls?
Perfect follow‑up, Jorge 🌞. If futures are binding promises, then options are like keys you may or may not choose to use.
An option is a financial contract that gives its holder the right — but not the obligation — to buy or sell an underlying asset at a predetermined price (the strike price) within a set period of time. The buyer pays a premium for this right.
Call option → right to buy the asset at the strike price.
Put option → right to sell the asset at the strike price.
| Feature | Futures | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Obligation | Both sides must transact at expiry | Buyer has a choice; seller must comply if exercised |
| Upfront cost | No premium (just margin) | Buyer pays a premium |
| Risk | Unlimited for both parties | Buyer’s risk limited to premium; seller’s risk can be large |
| Common use | Hedging, speculation | Hedging, speculation, income strategies |
Hedgers → e.g., an investor buys a put option to protect a stock portfolio from falling prices.
Speculators → bet on price moves with limited downside.
Traders → design strategies (spreads, straddles, covered calls) to profit from volatility.
"1900 is a good round date to choose"~~~Arthur C. Clarke
Chess: "The Round Table"
