Futures investing basics

A futures contract is a legally binding agreement to buy or sell a standardized asset at a predetermined price at a specified time in the future. Futures contracts are traded electronically on exchanges such as CME Group, which is the largest futures exchange in the United States.

What futures markets do over the short and long term can tell investors a lot about what's going on in the world (how much it will cost to fill your gas tank before your summer road trip, for example). Understanding how futures markets work, and perhaps even trading futures at some point, starts with some basic questions. 

Are you an experienced stock trader looking to expand your trading prowess? If so, you may be interested in the futures markets as a capital-efficient way to gain exposure to six different asset classes, virtually around the clock.