Securities Terms and Definitions

Systemic Risk The risk that a default by one market participant will have repercussions on other participants due to the interlocking nature of financial markets. For example, Customer A’s default in X market may affect Intermediary B’s ability to fulfill its obligations in Markets X, Y, and Z. Amortization Liquidation of a debt through installment payments. Backwardation Market situation in which futures prices are progressively lower in the distant delivery months. For instance, if the gold quotation for January is $360.00 per ounce and that for June is $355.00 per ounce, the backwardation for five months against January is $5.00 per ounce. (Backwardation is the opposite of contango ). See Inverted Market. Accommodation Trading Non-competitive trading entered into by a trader, usually to assist another with illegal trades. Exercise Price (Strike Price) The price, specified in the option contract, at which the underlying futures contract, security, or commodity will move from seller to buyer. Butterfly Spread A three-legged option spread in which each leg has the same expiration date but different strike prices. For example, a butterfly spread in soybean call options might consist of one long call at a $5.50 strike price, two short calls at a $6.00 strike price, and one long call at a $6.50 strike price. Buy (or Sell) On Close To buy (or sell) at the end of the trading session within the closing price range. Basis Grade The grade of a commodity used as the standard or par grade of a futures contract. Par Refers to the standard delivery point(s) and/or quality of a commodity that is deliverable on a futures contract at contract price. Bear Spread (1) A strategy involving the simultaneous purchase and sale of options of the same class and expiration date, but different strike prices. In a bear spread, the option that is purchased has a lower delta than the option that is bought. For example, in a call bear spread, the purchased option has a higher exercise price than the option that is sold. Also called Bear Vertical Spread. (2) The simultaneous purchase and sale of two futures contracts in the same or related commodities with the intention of profiting from a decline in prices but at the same time limiting the potential loss if this expectation does not materialize.

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	Did You Know?
	Transfer Trades: Entries made upon the books of Futures Commission Merchants Transfer Trades: Entries made upon the books of Futures Commission Merchants for the purpose of: (1) transferring existing trades from one account to another within the same firm where no change in ownership is involved; (2) transferring existing trades from the books of one FCM to the books of another FCM where no change in ownership is involved. Also called Ex-Pit Transactions.