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Currency Futures / Forex Trading

Currency Futures
Currency futures markets were developed in response to the shift from fixed to flexible exchange rates in 1971. They became particularly popular after rates were allowed to float free in 1973, because of the resulting increased volatility in exchange rates.

A currency future is the price of a particular currency for settlement in a specified future date. A currency future contract is an agreement to buy or sell, on the future exchange, a standard quantity of foreign currency at a future date at the agreed price. The counterpart to futures contracts is the future exchange, which ensures that all contracts will honored. This effectively eliminates the credit risk to a very large extent.

Currency futures are traded on futures exchanges and the most popular exchange are the ones where the contracts are fungible or transferable freely. The Singapore International Monetary Exchange (SIMEX) and the International Monetary Market, Chicago (IMM) are the most popular futures exchanges. There are smaller futures exchanges in London, Sydney, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels, Zurich, Milan, New York and Philadelphia.


Pricing of Futures Contract

Futures Price = Spot Price + Cost of Carrying (Interest)

Cost of carrying is the sum of all costs incurred to carry till the maturity of the futures contract less any revenue, which may result in this period.

In India there is no futures market available for the Indian Corporates to hedge their currency risks through futures.

The advantages of Future Contract

o   Low Credit Risk : In case of futures the credit risk is low as the clearing house is the counter party to every futures.
o   Gearing : Only small margin money is required to hedge large amounts.

The disadvantages of Future Contract

o   Basic Risk : As futures contract are standardized they do not provide a perfect hedge.
o   Margining Process : The administration is difficult.

It is observed that a futures contract is a type of forward contract, but there are several characteristics that distinguish from forward contracts.

Ø  Standardized Vs. Customized Contract :

Forward contract is customized while the future is standardized.

Ø  Counter Party Risk :

In case of futures contract, once the trade is agreed upon the exchange becomes the counter party. Thus reducing the risk to almost nil. In case of forward contract, parties take the credit risk to each other.

Ø  Liquidity :
Futures contract are much more liquid and their price is much more transparent as compared to forwards.

Ø  Squaring Off:

A forward contract can be reversed only with the same counter party with whom it was entered into. A futures contract can be reversed with any member of the exchange.

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