Bites of trading knowledge #2

What is the Notional Value of a Futures Contract? –

Notional value of a futures contract is how much total value the contract theoretically controls.

Contract Size * Underlying Price = Notional Value.

Bakkt ® Bitcoin (USD) Cash Settled Monthly Futures (BMC) for example has a contract size of 1 bitcoin and assuming the BMC price is $60,000.00, the notional value of the futures contract is $60,000.00.

What is the difference between Margin and Leverage? –

Margin is the amount of money deposited with the broker to control a futures contract. It is determined by the futures exchange and maybe adjusted by the broker to manage risk to their clients.

Leverage is the ability to use less money to theoretically control 1 futures contract compared with buying the product underlying the contract outright which amounts to the notional value of the futures contract.

To calculate how much leverage a futures contract gives, divide the notional value of the contract by the margin.

The BMC example above had a notional value of $60,000.00 and with a margin requirement of $18,000.00, is equal to approximately three times leverage on our money ($60,000.00 / $18,000.00 = 3.33).

What is a Point and a Tick? –

Point is the smallest price increment that can occur on the left side of the decimal point. (Example. 90.000)

Tick is the price movement that occurs on the right side of the decimal when looking at the price of a futures contract and is the smallest possible price change measured by markets. A Point is composed of Ticks. (Example. 90.000)

Mini US Dollar Index® Futures (SDX) has a minimum price fluctuation of $0.005 representing one tick and would move from 90.000 to 90.005. It takes 200 ticks to make one point or a move from 90.000 to 91.000.

Risks and opportunities for corporates and individual investors: HEDGING PORTFOLIO RISK –

Hedging bitcoin exposure with the Bakkt ® Bitcoin (USD) Cash Settled Monthly Futures (BMC) contract is a way to manage portfolio risk by taking a directional position opposite to the underlying asset as protection.

For example, a hedger may have plans to hedge downward price movement in bitcoin using futures contracts based on in-house market and portfolio analytical processes. The market analysis may use common technical analytical techniques such as support and resistance to formulate the trade decision. In the chart (Figure 1), if bitcoin is expected to weaken as it nears the resistance areas, the hedger may plan to enter into a short futures position using the Bakkt ® Bitcoin (USD) Cash Settled Monthly Futures contract under either price levels of $46,000 or $52,000 to lock in the value of their underlying bitcoin position.