Glossary

Core Principle

See Also:

Basis: Basis is the difference between the current cash price of a commodity and the futures price of the same commodity. In more details, the Basis is the difference between the spot or cash price of a commodity and the price of the nearest futures contract for the same or a related commodity. Basis is usually computed in relation to the futures contract next to expire and may reflect different time periods, product forms, grades, or locations.

Clearing Organization: An entity through which futures and other derivative transactions are cleared and settled. It is also charged with assuring the proper conduct of each contract's delivery procedures and the adequate financing of trading. A clearing organization may be a division of a particular exchange, an adjunct or affiliate thereof, or a freestanding entity. Also called a clearing house, clearing association or multilateral clearing organization.

Commodity: A commodity, as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act, includes the agricultural commodities enumerated in Section 1a(4) of the Commodity Exchange Act, 7 USC 1a(4), and all other goods and articles, except onions as provided in Public Law 85-839 (7 USC 13-1), a 1958 law that banned futures trading in onions, and all services, rights, and interests in which contracts for future delivery are presently or in the future dealt in.

Commodity Exchange Act: The Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) provides for the federal regulation of commodity futures and options trading. See Commodity Futures Modernization Act.

Contract: Contract is a term of reference describing a unit of trading for a commodity future or option. At the same time contract is an agreement to buy or sell a specified commodity, detailing the amount and grade of the product and the date on which the contract will mature and become deliverable.

Contract Market: Contract Market (also referred to as an Exchange) is a board of trade designated by the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) to trade futures or options contracts on a particular commodity. Commonly used to mean any exchange on which futures are traded. A contract market can allow both institutional and retail participants and can list for trading futures contracts on any commodity, provided that each contract is not readily susceptible to manipulation. Contract Market is also called designated contract market.

Derivative: A financial instrument, traded on or off an exchange, the price of which is directly dependent upon the value of one or more underlying securities, equity indices, debt instruments, commodities, other derivative instruments, or any agreed upon pricing index or arrangement. Derivatives involve the trading of rights or obligations based on the underlying product but do not directly transfer that product. Derivatives are generally used to hedge risk or to exchange a floating rate of return for fixed rate of return. Derivatives include futures, options, and swaps. For example, futures contracts are derivatives of the physical contract and options on futures are derivatives of futures contracts.

Derivatives Clearing Organization: Derivatives Clearing Organization is a clearing organization or similar entity that, in respect to a contract enables each party to the contract to substitute, through novation or otherwise, the credit of the derivatives clearing organization for the credit of the parties. Derivatives Clearing Organization arranges or provides, on a multilateral basis, for the settlement or netting of obligations resulting from such contracts. Derivatives Clearing Organization provides clearing services or arrangements that mutualize or transfer among participants in the derivatives clearing organization the credit risk arising from such contracts.

Transaction: Transaction is an entry or liquidation of a trade.

Labels: