III.2.1 INTRODUCTIONIII.2.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF FUTURES AND FORWARDSIII.2.3 THEORETICAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SPOT, FORWARD AND FUTURESIII.2.4 THE BASISIII.2.5 HEDGING WITH FORWARDS AND FUTURESIII.2.6 HEDGING IN PRACTICEIII.2.7 USING FUTURES FOR SHORT TERM HEDGINGIII.2.8 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS