Futures contracts & positions

Get a handle on what initial and maintenance margin requirements mean for both your position and your account—plus learn how to find margin requirements in thinkorswim®.

Take a look at how the mark-to-market process makes sure that margin requirements are being met, and how it determines the daily gains and losses of your positions.

Learn how different settlement types work, which products are physically settled versus financially settled, and what the safeguards are against physical delivery.

Find out why traders use rolling to manage a position, how it works with different settlement types, and how you can monitor liquidation dates and expiration cycles in thinkorswim.

Discover how futures could be used to hedge a portfolio and how leverage can potentially help offset losses. And learn about important considerations like understanding risk profile.