Contract size

What is “Contract size”?

Contract size is the standardized quantity of the underlying asset that is specified in each futures contract. It represents the amount of the asset that will be bought or sold when a futures contract is traded.

Why is Contract size important?

Standardization: Futures contracts are standardized financial instruments traded on exchanges. The contract size ensures uniformity and consistency across all contracts for a particular asset. It allows traders to know the quantity of the asset they are buying or selling when they enter into a futures contract.

Risk Management and leverage calculation: The contract size plays a crucial role in risk management. Since futures contracts have a fixed contract size, traders can precisely calculate their exposure and potential risk. They can determine the total value of their position and assess the impact of price movements on their trading capital. Futures trading often involves leverage, which allows traders to control a larger position with a smaller amount of capital. The contract size is a key factor in calculating the leverage ratio. By comparing the contract size to the margin requirement (the initial amount of capital required to enter a futures position), traders can assess the leverage they are employing and the potential amplification of gains or losses.

Liquidity: The contract size can impact the liquidity of the futures market. Contracts with larger sizes tend to attract more institutional investors and larger market participants. This can result in increased liquidity, tighter bid-ask spreads, and smoother trading conditions.