Gold and silver futures contracts can offer a hedge against inflation, a speculative play, an alternative investment class or a commercial hedge for investors seeking opportunities outside of traditional equity and fixed income securities.

Gold is traded in dollars and cents per ounce. For example, when gold is trading at $600 per ounce, the contract has a value of $60,000 ($600 x 100 ounces). A trader that is long at $600 and sells at $610 will make $1,000 ($610 - $600 = $10 profit; $10 x 100 ounces = $1,000). Conversely, a trader who is long at $600 and sells at $590 will lose $1,000.

The minimum price movement, or tick size, is 10 cents. The market may have a wide range, but it must move in increments of at least 10 cents.

COMEX delivery is to New York area vaults. These vaults are subject to change by the exchange. The most active months traded (according to volume and open interest) are February, April, June, August, October, and December.

To maintain an orderly market, the exchanges will set position limits. A position limit is the maximum number of contracts a single participant can hold. There are different position limits for hedgers and speculators.

Silver is traded in dollars and cents per ounce like gold. For example, if silver is trading at $10 per ounce, the "big" contract has a value of $50,000 (5,000 ounces x $10 per ounce), while the mini would be $10,000 (1,000 ounces x $10 per ounce).

The tick size is $0.001 per ounce, which equates to $5 per big contract and $1 for the mini contract.4 The market may not trade in a smaller increment, but it can trade larger multiples, like pennies.

Like gold, the delivery requirements specify vaults in the New York area. The most active months for delivery (according to volume and open interests) are March, May, July, September, and December. Silver, too, has position limits set by the exchanges.

The primary function of any futures market is to provide a centralized marketplace for those who have an interest in buying or selling physical commodities at some time in the future. The metal futures market helps hedgers reduce the risk associated with adverse price movements in the cash market. Examples of hedgers include bank vaults, mines, manufacturers, and jewelers.

Hedgers take a position in the market that is the opposite of their physical position. Due to the price correlation between futures and the spot market, a gain in one market can offset losses in the other. For example, a jeweler who is fearful that they will pay higher prices for gold or silver would then buy a contract to lock in a guaranteed price. If the market price for gold or silver goes up, they will have to pay higher prices for gold/silver.

However, because the jeweler took a long position in the futures markets, they could have made money on the futures contract, which would offset the increase in the cost of purchasing the gold/silver. If the cash price for gold or silver and the futures prices each went down, the hedger would lose on her futures positions but would pay less when buying her gold or silver in the cash market.

Unlike hedgers, speculators have no interest in taking delivery, but instead, try to profit by assuming market risk. Speculators include individual investors, hedge funds, or commodity trading advisors (CTAs).

Speculators come in all shapes and sizes and can be in the market for different periods of time. Those who are in and out of the market frequently in a session are called scalpers. A day trader holds a position for longer than a scalper does, but usually not overnight. A position trader holds for multiple sessions. All speculators need to be aware that if a market moves in the opposite direction, the position can result in losses.

Risk Warning: The above content is for reference only, and does not represent JRFX’s position. JRFX does not assume any form of loss caused by any trading carried out in accordance with this article. Please consult your financial planner for your investment portfolios and manage your own risk.

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