COMMODITY FUTURES

Commodity futures are standardized contracts for the purchase and sale of physical commodities for future delivery on a regulated commodity futures exchange. The commodity futures contract price is determined by the equilibrium between supply and demand among competing buy and sell orders on the exchange at the time of the purchase or sale of the contract. Unlike options, a futures contract gives the holder the obligation to make or take delivery under the terms of the contract. An option grants the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to establish a position previously held by the seller of the option.