Commodity Futures Basics

Alternative Investments: Hedge Funds, Private Equity & Real Assets · 4:07

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Lyrics

[Verse 1]
When farmers grow their corn and wheat
They worry prices might retreat
Before harvest time comes around
Will market rates stay safe and sound?
A futures contract makes a deal
To lock in prices that are real
No matter what the market does
The price is set because

[Chorus]
Futures standardized and clean
Contract terms are crystal clear
Quantity quality and when
Settlement date through the year
No storage costs or spoilage fears
Just paper trades that last for years
Commodity futures pave the way
For price discovery every day

[Verse 2]
Instead of buying tons of grain
And dealing with the storage pain
Investors use these contracts bright
To capture commodity insight
The exchange sets every single term
Size and grade so traders learn
Exactly what they're buying here
The standards make it crystal clear

[Chorus]
Futures standardized and clean
Contract terms are crystal clear
Quantity quality and when
Settlement date through the year
No storage costs or spoilage fears
Just paper trades that last for years
Commodity futures pave the way
For price discovery every day

[Bridge]
Hedgers manage risky price swings
Speculators chase the profit rings
Both together make markets flow
Information helps the prices grow
Physical delivery's rare you see
Most close out financially

[Verse 3]
Oil and gold and copper too
Coffee beans and cattle through
Every major commodity
Has futures traded actively
Margin calls keep traders safe
Clearinghouse accepts the faith
Daily marking to the market
Keeps the system working targeted

[Chorus]
Futures standardized and clean
Contract terms are crystal clear
Quantity quality and when
Settlement date through the year
No storage costs or spoilage fears
Just paper trades that last for years
Commodity futures pave the way
For price discovery every day

[Outro]
When you want commodity exposure
Futures give you clean disclosure
Standardized contracts all the way
Price discovery every day

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