What is Forex Futures Trading: Definition & Meaning Explained

Definition of Forex Futures Trading

Forex futures trading is the buying and selling of exchange-traded futures contracts for currency pairs . A forex futures contract gives the holder the right and the obligation to buy or sell a pair of currencies at a predetermined price and date. The important components of forex futures trading include:

Forex pair: the currency you will buy in exchange of the other at the end of the futures contract
Lot size: the value of the currency included in the contract
Contract price: the price at which the futures contract is trading
Spot price: the latest forex rate for the currency pair, different from the contract price
Margin: the amount of money you’re required to deposit with your currency trading platform
Tick size: the minimum amount by which a forex futures contract can move, which is Rs. 0.0025 in India
Expiration date: the preagreed day on which the contract must be excercised or squared off

Forex futures trading in India is possible through three exchanges: NSE, BSE, and MSE. The forex futures contracts are standardized derivatives that can be traded between 9.00 AM to 7.30 PM. Forex futures in India are cash settled, meaning profits or losses are settled in INR while the base currency is not delivered.

Foreign Direct Investment

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is the act of acquiring a majority stake in a company located in a different country with the intention of assisting, growing, and managing the business.

FDIs and FPIs may seem similar but there is a major difference - lasting interest. When a company or investor obtains at least 10% control of foreign company with the intention of actively managing the business, it’s known as lasting interest.

A company that establishes a subsidiary in another country can also be classified as FDI. FDIs can also be made through mergers and acquisitions as well as collaborations with foreign companies

Beta Stocks

Beta of stocks measures the risk that the shares carry compared to the broader market. Theoretically, the market is said to have a default Beta of 1. As a result, Beta stocks can be of four types:

High Beta Stocks : typically having a Beta value of more than 1, these stocks are known to be high-risk, high-reward investments
Low Beta Stocks : typically having a Beta value of less than 1, these stocks are known to be low-risk, low-reward investments
Negative Beta Stocks : typically having a Beta value of less than zero, these stocks are known to have an inverse correlation with the market
Same as the market : typically having a Beta that’s equal to 1, these stocks are known to share characteristics with the market

Iceberg Order

An Iceberg Order is used to slice and execute large orders into multiple “legs”. Large orders have the potential to drastically affect stock prices and subsequently investor behaviour.

That’s why institutional investors or traders with a relatively large buy or sell order place an Iceberg Order, thus masking their total transaction value and effectively going under the radar.

Brokers and trading platforms offer Iceberg Orders as a feature, which is activated after a certain quantity of scrips or contracts are selected, typically above 100.

Growth Stocks

Growth stocks are shares of companies that have the potential to outperform the market. These are stocks can grow faster than the market due to strong fundamental characteristics like a strong balance sheet, high Earnings Per Share, solid P/E, and more that can bolster its profits in the medium to long term.

All Or None Order

An all or none order is an instruction to execute the entire order or none of it. For example, you place an order for 1000 shares with a contingency that it should be an all or none order.

If so, then the order will be not executed if 999 shares are available. The order will only go through if 1000 shares are available. Otherwise, the order will be canceled.

Forex Futures Trading