Alternative Investments: CAIA Level I, 3rd Edition
by Donald R. Chambers, Mark J. P. Anson, Keith H. Black, Hossein Kazemi, CAIA Association
CHAPTER 11 Commodity Forward Pricing
Commodity investing serves as the focal point to this chapter and Chapter 12. Because futures contracts are the primary vehicle with which investors obtain exposure to commodity returns, our analysis of commodities as an investment begins with a somewhat detailed discussion of futures and forwards.
11.1 Forward Contracts versus Futures Contracts
Forward contracts were discussed in moderate detail in Chapter 6. Chapter 6's discussion focused only on forward contracts and, more specifically, forward contracts on financial securities. This chapter includes futures contracts and focuses on both futures and forwards on underlying physical assets (i.e., commodities).
In their simplest form, both forward contracts and futures contracts are binding agreements for the purchase or sale of a commodity but with deferred exchange of the commodity and the cash. This section details the differences between forward contracts and futures contracts.
11.1.1 Trading Differences between Forward Contracts and Futures Contracts
In introductory material the terms forward contract and futures contract are often used interchangeably due to their similarities: the hallmark of both contracts is the deferred delivery, and both contracts are priced with similar principles. One major distinction between the two is that forward contracts are typically over-the-counter (OTC) contracts, whereas futures contracts are exchange traded. Since futures contracts are traded ...
Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.
Read now
Unlock full access