26 June 2022 4:38

How to continuously plot futures data

How to create a continuous futures contract?

Continuous Futures

  1. Click in an empty row and enter the underlying symbol.
  2. Hit enter, and select the futures contract from the list.
  3. From the selector, choose the contract with the infinity sign (∞)which denotes a continuous futures contract.
  4. Note: The market data line for the future will also show the infinity sign.

How do you draw a futures curve?


Quote: In a theoretical setting see a downward sloping futures curve what we're going to talk a little bit about in the next.

How do you calculate lot size in a futures contract?

Use the formula:

  1. Maximum risk in dollars ÷ (trade risk in ticks x tick value) = position size.
  2. $100 / (4 x $12.50) = 2 contracts.


What is the cost of roll over in futures?

Rollover cost is calculated as the percentage change between futures contract price for the next month and the futures contract price for the current month contract.

How do continuous futures work?

A continuous futures contract is not really a futures contract. Instead, it is several futures contracts that have been spliced together to create a long-term chart. There is often a data adjustment involved in this splicing to eliminate gaps and create a smooth price series.

What’s the difference between 1 and 2 continuous futures?

The only difference between these two futures is the additional contracts listed in the ES2!. In other words, 1! has the current contract in front, while the 2! has the next contract in front. For example, from December 2018 to March 2019 the main contract for the ES1!

How do forward curves work?

A forward curve is built using the current day’s price values to exchange a commodity at some point in the future, and the commodity’s value will change as time progresses.

How do you play backwardation?

One way to identify futures that are experiencing backwardation is to look at the spread between near-month contracts and contracts that are further out. If a futures contract trades below the spot price, it will increase because the price must eventually converge with the spot price upon contract expiration.

What do futures curves show?

The futures curve shows the price at which it is possible to buy or sell contracts for a date in the future at a price agreed on today. It is not a forecast of future spot prices.

When should you roll over futures?

Traders will roll over futures contracts that are about to expire to a longer-dated contract in order to maintain the same position following expiry. The roll involves selling the front-month contract already held to buy a similar contract but with longer time to maturity.

What happens if I don’t square off futures on expiry?

If you don’t square off your positions in the identified stocks before the close of trading hours on the expiry day, you will either have to take delivery (for long futures, long calls, short puts) or give delivery of the underlying stock (short futures, long puts, short calls) for the contract.

How long can you hold futures?

The maximum duration for a futures contract is three months. In a typical futures and options transaction, the traders will usually pay only the difference between the agreed upon contract price and the market price. Hence, you don’t have to pay the actual price of the underlying asset.

How do I roll over to next month?

You can take rollover position in options but it will not be as useful as futures rollover. You will pay around 1% as premium for rollover of future position. But the price of an option itself is a premium. If Nov month option position expires worthless, you can rollover by buying December month options.

How do you backtest futures strategies?

How to Backtest a Trading Strategy?

  1. Pick a trading idea, complete with entry and exit rules.
  2. Pick a historical period over which to test your strategy.
  3. Test it on a spreadsheet, or use a forward-testing or automatic backtesting software.
  4. Gather the results and analyze its performance statistics.


Can we exit futures before expiry?

Before Expiry



It is not necessary to hold on to a futures contract till its expiry date. In practice, most traders exit their contracts before their expiry dates. Any gains or losses you’ve made are settled by adjusting them against the margins you have deposited till the date you decide to exit your contract.

Can we do intraday in futures?

Yes. New Terms & Conditions and F&O Intraday agreement have to be signed by you for trading in Intraday Futures. Please contact the branch for New T&C and F&O Intraday agreement that can be either signed in any of our branches or the same can be accepted through Customer Care.

Can we sell futures on same day?

Day trading is the strategy of buying and selling a futures contract within the same day without holding open long or short positions overnight. Day trades vary in duration. They can last for a couple of minutes or for most of a trading session.

Can I sell futures without buying?

Selling. Unlike stocks, you can sell futures without making a previous purchase. However, you cannot realize a profit in futures trading until you “flatten” your position – placing an order for the same quantity on the opposite side of the market.

How much money can you make trading futures?

The salaries of Futures Traders in the US range from $32,680 to $1,119,284 , with a median salary of $203,812 . The middle 57% of Futures Traders makes between $203,812 and $507,784, with the top 86% making $1,119,284.

Which is safe future or option?

The fundamental difference between buying a stock future and an option is that the latter is not obligatory. While a future is an agreement to buy or sell a security at a certain time in the future for a specified price, an option gives one the right but not the obligation to do the same.

Can you short futures?

The answer is you can still short sell the stock even without having delivery of the stock. But the key question is when to short sell a stock. There are 2 options in front of you. You can either do short selling in spot market or you can do short selling in futures market.

Can we short futures overnight?

One can only short on an intraday basis in the spot market. The short positions cannot be carried overnight in the spot market. The short position in the futures market can be carried forward overnight.

How do you make money shorting futures?

The idea is to borrow something you don’t own from someone else and then sell it. You will collect the money now, but you are short (missing) what you borrowed. You have to return it at some point. If you can buy it for cheaper later, you make a profit.