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TRADING!
All About Futures & E-Mini Futures ~
what you need to know.
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Table of Contents
Characteristics of Futures3
Overview of the main futures traded.6
What are Equity Index Futures..7
The Markets.9
Favorites to trade ~ E-Mini S&P & E-Mini
NASDAX 100~ Advantages..14
Future Market Advantages15
Futures Margin Rates.18
Contract Specifications.22
OCO ~ Futures Trading Execution27
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Figure 1
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The Markets
S&P Mini
Very popular
Highest volume / Most liquid
$50.00 per point per contract (Example: If you buy 1 S&P Emini Futures contract at 1365.00 and sell it at 1370.00, you
made $250.00)
Represents a basket of stocks (S&P 500)
Very orderly market because of its high volume
Ideal for the more conservative trader
NASDAQ Mini
Solid volume
$20.00 per point per contract
Represents a basket of NASDAQ stocks
Orderly market but larger swings partly because of lower
volume than the S&P
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DOW Mini
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Russell
Low volume
Popular because of its price point, this is not a market for
conservative personalities
$100.00 per point per contract
Represents a basket of Russell stocks
The combination of low volume and the high price point
means a big money, fast moving market (not for the
beginner)
DAX
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FESX
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Symbol
Exchange
Initial Margin
ES
CME/Globex
$4,375.00
$400.00
DAX Index
FDAX
Eurex
13,950.00
$3,500.00
NQ
CME/Globex
$2,500.00
$500.00
SP
CME/Globex
$21,875.00
$7,500.00
TF
$6,850.00
$500.00
YM
CBOT/Globex
$3,125.00
$500.00
Name
Symbol
Exchange
Initial Margin
Australian Dollar
6A
CME/Globex
$2,362.00
$500.00
British Pound
6B
CME/Globex
$2,025.00
$500.00
Canadian Dollar
6C
CME/Globex
$2,160.00
$500.00
EuroFX
6E
CME/Globex
$4,725.00
$500.00
Japanese Yen
6J
CME/Globex
$2,700.00
$500.00
Dollar Index
DX
$1,463.00
$500.00
E-mini EuroFX
E7
CME/Globex
$2,363.00
$500.00
J7
CME/Globex
$1,350.00
$500.00
DayTrade Margin
Currencies
DayTrade Margin
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Energies
Name
Symbol
Exchange
Initial Margin
DayTrade Margin
BRN
ICE Europe
$6,250.00
$1,875.00
Crude Oil
CL
NYMEX/Globex (NYMEXG)
$6,885.00
$1,000.00
QG
NYMEX/Globex (NYMEXG)
$929.00
$500.00
QM
NYMEX/Globex (NYMEXG)
$4,219.00
$500.00
QU
NYMEX/Globex (NYMEXG)
$4,250.00
$500.00
Name
Symbol
Exchange
Initial Margin
Gold
GC
COMEX/Globex (COMEXG)
$11,475.00
$1,000.00
Copper
HG
COMEX/Globex (COMEXG)
$5,738.00
$1,000.00
miNY Copper
QC
COMEX/Globex (COMEXG)
$2,869.00
$500.00
miNY Silver
QI
COMEX/Globex (COMEXG)
$10,800.00
$3,240.00
miNY Gold
QO
COMEX/Globex (COMEXG)
$3,038.00
$500.00
Silver
SI
COMEX/Globex (COMEXG)
$21,600.00
$6,480.00
Metals
DayTrade Margin
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Financials
Name
Symbol
Exchange
Initial Margin
DayTrade Margin
FGBL
Eurex
$1,400.00
$500.00
Ultra T-Bond
UB
CBOT/Globex
$4,050.00
$1,000.00
ZB
CBOT/Globex
$4,185.00
$500.00
ZF
CBOT/Globex
$1,215.00
$500.00
ZN
CBOT/Globex
$1,755.00
$500.00
Name
Symbol
Exchange
Initial Margin
Mini-Sized Corn
XC
CBOT/Globex
$472.00
$142.00
Mini-Sized Soybeans
XK
CBOT/Globex
$742.00
$223.00
Mini-Sized Wheat
XW
CBOT/Globex
$810.00
$243.00
Corn
ZC
CBOT/Globex
$2,362.00
$709.00
Soybean Oil
ZL
CBOT/Globex
$1,688.00
$506.00
Soybean Meal
ZM
CBOT/Globex
$2,025.00
$608.00
Soybeans
ZS
CBOT/Globex
$3,712.00
$1,114.00
Wheat
ZW
CBOT/Globex
$4,050.00
$1,215.00
Grains
DayTrade Margin
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Softs
Name
Symbol
Exchange
Initial Margin
DayTrade Margin
Cocoa
CC
$1,750.00
$525.00
Cotton
CT
$8,400.00
$2,520.00
Coffee
KC
$4,970.00
$2,268.00
Lumber
LBS
CME/Globex
$2,250.00
$675.00
Orange Juice
OJ
$5,040.00
$504.00
Sugar #11
SB
$2,940.00
$882.00
Name
Symbol
Exchange
Initial Margin
Feeder Cattle
GF
CME/Globex
$2,025.00
$608.00
Pork Bellies
GPB
CME/Globex
$2,025.00
$608.00
Lean Hogs
HE
CME/Globex
$1,688.00
$506.00
Live Cattle
LE
CME/Globex
$1,620.00
$486.00
Meats
DayTrade Margin
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Contract Specifications:
Stock Index
Name
Symbol
Exchange
Contract Size
Months
Tick / $ Value
CME/Globex
$50 x Index
Value
H,M,U,Z
0.25 / $12.50
Eurex
25 x Index
Value
H,M,U,Z
0.5 / 12.50
CME/Globex
$20 x Index
Value
H,M,U,Z
0.25 / $5.00
CME/Globex
$250 x Index
Value
H,M,U,Z
0.10 / $25.00
$100 x Index
Value
H,M,U,Z
0.1 / $10.00
CBOT/Globex
$5 x Index
Value
H,M,U,Z
1 / $5.00
ES
DAX Index
FDAX
E-mini NASDAQ 100 Index
NQ
S&P 500 Index
SP
Russell 2000 Index Mini ($100)
TF
Dow Jones $5 Mini
YM
Currencies
Name
Symbol
Exchange
Contract Size
Months
Tick / $ Value
Australian Dollar
6A
CME/Globex
100K AUD
H,M,U,Z
0.0001 / $10.00
British Pound
6B
CME/Globex
62.5K
H,M,U,Z
0.0001 / $6.25
Canadian Dollar
6C
CME/Globex
100K $
H,M,U,Z
0.0001 / $10.00
EuroFX
6E
CME/Globex
125K
H,M,U,Z
0.0001 / $12.50
Japanese Yen
6J
CME/Globex
12.5 mil
H,M,U,Z
0.00001 / $12.50
Swiss Franc
6S
CME/Globex
125K CHF
H,M,U,Z
0.0001 / $12.50
$1000 X Index
Value
H,M,U,Z
0.005 / $5.00
0.01 / $6.25
Dollar Index
DX
E-mini EuroFX
E7
CME/Globex
62.5K
H,M,U,Z
J7
CME/Globex
6.25 mil
H,M,U,Z
0.01
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/ $6.25
E-micro AUD/USD
M6A
CME/Globex
10K AUD
H,M,U,Z
E-micro GBP/USD
M6B
CME/Globex
6,250
H,M,U,Z
0.0001 / $0.625
E-micro USD/CAD
M6C
CME/Globex
10,000 CAD
H,M,U,Z
0.0001/1.00 CAD
E-micro EUR/USD
M6E
CME/Globex
12,500
H,M,U,Z
0.0001 / $1.25
E-micro USD/JPY
M6J
CME/Globex
10,000
H,M,U,Z
.01/100
E-micro USD/CHF
M6S
CME/Globex
10,000 CHF
H,M,U,Z
.0001/1.00 CHF
Name
Symbol
Exchange
Contract Size
Months
Tick / $ Value
BRN
ICE Europe
42K gal
All
0.01 / $10.00
Crude Oil
CL
NYMEX/Globex (NYMEXG)
42K gal
All
0.01 / $10.00
Gas Oil
GAS
ICE Europe
42K gal
H,M,U,Z
0.0001 / $4.20
Heating Oil
HO
NYMEX/Globex (NYMEXG)
42K gal
All
0.0001 / $4.20
NYMEX/Globex (NYMEXG)
10,000 mmBtu
All
0.001 / $10.00
Energies
Natural Gas
NG
E-mini Natural Gas
QG
NYMEX/Globex (NYMEXG)
2,500 mmBtu
All
0.005 / $12.50
QH
NYMEX/Globex (NYMEXG)
21K gal
ALL
0.0001 / $2.10
QM
NYMEX/Globex (NYMEXG)
21K gal
All
0.025 / $12.50
QU
NYMEX/Globex (NYMEXG)
21K gal
All
0.001 / $21.00
RT
NYMEX/Globex (NYMEXG)
42K gal
All
0.0001 / $4.20
WBS
ICE Europe
42K gal
All
0.01 / $10.00
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Metals
Name
Symbol
Exchange
Contract Size
Months
Tick / $ Value
Gold
GC
COMEX/Globex (COMEXG)
100 oz
G,J,M,Q,V,Z
0.1 / $10.00
miNY Copper
QC
COMEX/Globex (COMEXG)
12,500 lbs
All
0.002 / $25.00
miNY Silver
QI
COMEX/Globex (COMEXG)
2,500 oz
F,G,H,K,N,U,Z
0.0125 / $31.25
miNY Gold
QO
COMEX/Globex (COMEXG)
50 oz
F,G,J,M,Q,V,Z
0.25 / $12.50
Silver
SI
COMEX/Globex (COMEXG)
5,000 oz
F,H,K,N,U,Z
0.005 / $25.00
Name
Symbol
Exchange
Contract Size
Months
Tick / $ Value
FGBL
Eurex
100K
H,M,U,Z
0.01 / 10.0
Ultra T-Bond
UB
CBOT/Globex
$100K bond
H,M,U,Z
1/32 / $31.25
Financials
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Grains
Name
Symbol
Exchange
Contract Size
Months
Tick / $ Value
Mini-Sized Corn
XC
CBOT/Globex
1,000 bu
H,K,N,U,Z
1/8 / $1.25
Mini-Sized Soybeans
XK
CBOT/Globex
1,000 bu
H,K,N,U,Z
1/8 / $1.25
Mini-Sized Wheat
XW
CBOT/Globex
1,000 bu
H,K,N,U,Z
1/8 / $1.25
Corn
ZC
CBOT/Globex
5,000 bu
H,K,N,U,Z
1/4 / $12.50
Soybean Oil
ZL
CBOT/Globex
60K lbs
F,H,K,N,Q,U,V,Z
1/100 / $6.00
Soybean Meal
ZM
CBOT/Globex
100 tons
F,H,K,N,Q,U,V,Z
0.10 / $10.00
Oats
ZO
CBOT/Globex
5,000 bu
H,K,N,U,Z
1/4 / $12.50
Rough Rice
ZR
CBOT/Globex
2,000 cwt
F,H,K,N,U,X
0.005 / $10.00
Soybeans
ZS
CBOT/Globex
5,000 bu
F,H,K,N,Q,U,X
1/4 / $12.50
Wheat
ZW
CBOT/Globex
5,000 bu
H,K,N,U,Z
1/4 / $12.50
Name
Symbol
Exchange
Contract Size
Months
Tick / $ Value
Cocoa
CC
10 tons
H,K,N,U,Z
1 / $10.00
Cotton
CT
50k lbs
H,K,N,V,Z
0.0001 / $5.00
DA
CME/Globex
200K lbs
All
0.01 / $20.00
Coffee
KC
37.5k lbs
H,K,N,U,Z
0.0005 / $18.75
CME/Globex
110K board
feet
F,H,K,N,U,X
0.10 / $11.00
Softs
Lumber
LBS
Orange Juice
OJ
15k lbs
H,K,N,U,X
0.0005 / $7.50
Sugar #11
SB
112k lbs
H,K,N,V
0.0001 / $11.20
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Meats
Name
Symbol
Exchange
Contract Size
Months
Tick / $ Value
Feeder Cattle
GF
CME/Globex
50K lbs
F,H,J,Q,U,V,X
0.00025 / $12.50
Pork Bellies
GPB
CME/Globex
40K lbs
G,H,K,N,Q
0.00025 / $10.00
CME/Globex
40K lbs
G,J,K,M,N,Q,V,Z
0.00025 / $10.00
CME/Globex
40K lbs
G,J,M,Q,V,Z
0.00025 / $10.00
Lean Hogs
HE
Live Cattle
LE
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For example, assume you just bought 10 contracts of NQ (Emini NASDAQ) futures for a momentum break out trade at
$2555 per contract. You expect it to break out to the up-side
quickly and your profit target is 6 ticks or $30 per contract but
for risk mitigation, you would like to lose no more than 6 ticks
or $30 per contract. To do this use an OCO order, which would
consist of a stop-loss order to sell 10 contract at $2525 (6tick
stop-loss) and a simultaneous limit order to sell 10 contracts at
$2585 (6 tick profit take), whichever occurs first. These orders
could either be day orders or good-till-canceled orders.
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http://powercycletrading.com
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This publication is sold with the understanding that neither the publisher nor author is engaged in rendering
legal, accounting, investment or other professional services. Trading and investing involves substantial risk.
Financial loss, even above the amount invested, is possible and common. Seek the services of a competent
professional person before investing or trading with money.
By accepting this trading course you agree that use of the information of this course is entirely at your own
risk. Neither the author nor the publisher is a registered investment advisor or a broker dealer. You
understand and acknowledge that there is a very high degree of risk involved in trading options, futures and
securities. Past results of any individual trader are not indicative of future returns by that trader, and are not
indicative of future returns which may be realized by you. Neither the author nor publisher assumes
responsibility or liability for your trading and investment results. This course is provided for informational
and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. The author and/or
publisher may hold positions in the stocks, futures or industries discussed here. You should not rely solely
on this information in making any investment. The information in this course should only be used as a
starting point for doing additional independent research in order to allow you to form your own opinion
regarding investments and trading strategies.
It should not be assumed that the information in this manual will result in you being a profitable trader or that
it will not result in losses. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. You should never
trade with money you cannot afford to lose.
The information in this product is for educational purposes only and in no way a solicitation of any order to
buy or sell. The author and publisher assume no responsibility for your trading results. There is an
extremely high risk in trading.
This course is sold AS IS, without any implied or express warranty as to its performance or to the results
that may be obtained by using the information.
Factual statements in this course are made as of the date the course was created and are subject to change
without notice.
HYPOTHETICAL OR SIMULATED PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE CERTAIN INHERENT
LIMITATIONS. UNLIKE AN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RECORD, SIMULATED RESULTS DO NOT
REPRESENT ACTUAL TRADING. ALSO, SINCE THE TRADES HAVE NOT ACTUALLY BEEN
EXECUTED, THE RESULTS MAY HAVE UNDER- OR OVER-COMPENSATED FOR THE IMPACT, IF
ANY, OF CERTAIN MARKET FACTORS, SUCH AS LACK OF LIQUIDITY. SIMULATED TRADING
PROGRAMS IN GENERAL ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED WITH THE
BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS
LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN.
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