Futures, Indices, and Commodities
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Next: What a futures contract actually is - 3 min
Define a futures contract and explain how it differs from spot trading.
- 1. Open lesson 1: What a futures contract actually is.
- 2. Answer the check before saving it.
- 3. Save it to unlock: The CME and CBOT — the futures backbone.
- 4. Then keep Contract specs — tick size, tick value, contract size visible as the following rep.
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Track 5 - Futures, Indices, and Commodities
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- Lesson 1NextWhat a futures contract actually isDefine a futures contract and explain how it differs from spot trading.Start this lesson now.
- Lesson 2PreviewThe CME and CBOT — the futures backboneIdentify CME Group and its main exchanges, and explain why they matter to a retail futures trader.Preview only. Resume stays here.
- Lesson 3PreviewContract specs — tick size, tick value, contract sizeRead a futures contract spec sheet and calculate the dollar value of one tick.Preview only. Resume stays here.
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- Chapter 1Current10 lessons
Futures Basics
Contract specs, expiry, settlement, rolls. The CME framework.
- 1.What a futures contract actually isDefine a futures contract and explain how it differs from spot trading.3 minNext
- 2.The CME and CBOT — the futures backboneIdentify CME Group and its main exchanges, and explain why they matter to a retail futures trader.3 minPreview
- 3.Contract specs — tick size, tick value, contract sizeRead a futures contract spec sheet and calculate the dollar value of one tick.3 minPreview
- 4.Expiry vs perpetual — futures expireExplain why futures contracts have expiration dates and how that differs from spot or crypto perpetuals.3 minPreview
- 5.Cash-settled vs physical deliveryDistinguish cash-settled futures from physically deliverable futures and explain why retail rarely takes delivery.3 minPreview
- 6.The roll period and its mechanicsDefine the roll period for futures contracts and explain how to roll a position from front month to next month.3 minPreview
- 7.Initial vs maintenance margin in futuresExplain initial margin, maintenance margin, and how margin calls work in a futures account.3 minPreview
- 8.SPAN margin vs Reg-TExplain SPAN margin and how it differs from the Reg-T margin used in stock accounts.3 minPreview
- 9.The 23-hour trading dayDescribe CME's nearly continuous trading schedule and explain how the daily maintenance break works.3 minPreview
- 10.Choosing a futures brokerCompare retail futures broker options and identify the criteria that matter for a new $500-account trader.3 minPreview
- Chapter 2Preview7 lessons
Index Futures — ES, NQ, YM, RTY
The four big index contracts. Specs, micros, prop firm sizing.
This chapter is folded so the next action stays clear. Open it when you want to preview its lessons.
- Chapter 3Preview7 lessons
Energy Futures
WTI crude, natural gas. Geopolitics-driven products.
This chapter is folded so the next action stays clear. Open it when you want to preview its lessons.
- Chapter 4Preview9 lessons
Metals
Gold, silver, palladium, platinum. Safe haven and industrial dynamics.
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- Chapter 5Preview8 lessons
Calendar Spreads and Basis
Front-month vs back-month. The contango/backwardation framework.
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- Chapter 6Preview8 lessons
Prop Firms — Honest Take
TopStep, Apex, FTMO landscape. Evaluations, scaling, payouts, traps.
This chapter is folded so the next action stays clear. Open it when you want to preview its lessons.