FIX protocol Tutorial: Futures and Options

Hello guys, its been a long time since I shared any FIX protocol tutorial, I think almost 12 years but today is the day. If you are using FIX Protocol to create derivative trading systems in Java and want to learn about Futures, Options and how they are supported in FIX Protocol then you have come to the right place. In the past, I have shared FIX Protocol tutorials as well as many FIX Protocol questions and in this article, I will talk about Futures, Options and how FXI Protocol support their trading. The FIX Protocol, widely used in financial markets, plays a crucial role in electronic trading, including futures and options. Futures and options are derivatives that enable traders and investors to speculate on the price movement of various financial instruments. This tutorial will provide a comprehensive overview of futures and options trading and how the FIX Protocol supports these activities.

In this tutorial we will discuss about

• What is futures and options ?
• What is futures and options trading ? where does it take place ?
• What are important feature of futures contract ?
• What do you mean by strike price and maturity month ?
• What are different types of Order types of Order type supported in futures ?
• What is spread ?
• What is margin call ?
• How does settlement occurs in case of futures and options ?
• How does FIX protocol supports futures and options ?
• Which fields are used to identify that an electronic order is futures order ?

So what are we waiting for, let's start now

1. What are Futures and Options?

Futures and options are financial derivatives contracts that derive their value from an underlying asset, such as stocks, commodities, or indices:

Futures Contracts: These obligate the buyer to purchase, and the seller to sell, a specified asset at a predetermined price and date in the future. They are standardized and traded on organized exchanges.

Options Contracts: These provide the holder with the right (but not the obligation) to buy or sell an underlying asset at a predetermined price (the strike price) on or before a specific date (the maturity month).

Here is a nice table which also highlights the key difference between Futures and Options in derivative Trading:

2. What is Futures and Options Trading? Where does it take place?

Futures and options trading involves buying and selling these contracts in financial markets. It typically occurs on regulated exchanges and over-the-counter (OTC) markets:

Regulated Exchanges: Well-known examples include the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), Eurex, and NYSE Liffe, where standardized contracts are traded openly.

OTC Markets: Here, contracts are customized, and trading occurs directly between parties.

3. Important Features of Futures Contracts

Key features of futures contracts include:

• Standardized contract specifications.
• Clearinghouse involvement for risk management.
• Daily settlement of gains and losses (mark-to-market).
• Leverage, allowing traders to control larger positions with a smaller capital outlay.

4. Strike Price and Maturity Month

These two are very crucial for anyone involved in trading Futures and Options or anyone supporting trading application for derivatives.

Strike Price: This is the pre-defined price at which the underlying asset can be bought (for call options) or sold (for put options).

Maturity Month: Also known as the expiration date, it's the date when the option contract ceases to exist.

5. Different Types of Order Types Supported in Futures

Common order types include market orders, limit orders, stop orders, and more. Traders use these to specify the price and conditions under which they want to buy or sell contracts.

6. Spread

A spread involves simultaneously buying and selling two related contracts (e.g., long one futures contract and short another) to profit from the price difference between them.

7. Margin Call

A margin call is a demand for additional funds to cover potential losses in a trader's account. It's issued when the account's equity falls below a certain level.

8. Settlement in Futures and Options

Settlement in futures involves the physical delivery of the underlying asset (in some cases), while most contracts are cash-settled. Options contracts are typically settled in cash, with the difference between the strike price and the market price.

9. FIX Protocol and Futures/Options

The FIX Protocol is widely used for electronic trading in futures and options. It provides a standardized format for order entry, execution, and messaging between market participants.

10. Fields Used to Identify Electronic Futures Orders

Common FIX Protocol fields for identifying electronic futures orders include:

ClOrdID: The unique order identifier.

Symbol: Identifies the underlying asset.

OrdType: Specifies the order type (e.g., Market, Limit).

SecurityID: A unique identifier for the instrument.

MaturityMonthYear: Specifies the maturity month and year.

Conclusion:

That's all about Futures and options and how FIX protocol support them. Futures and options trading is a vital component of financial markets, enabling participants to manage risk and speculate on price movements. 

The FIX Protocol plays a significant role in supporting electronic trading by standardizing communication between market participants. Understanding the fundamentals of futures and options trading and their interaction with the FIX Protocol is crucial for anyone involved in the financial industry.

Now, one question for you? What does the tag 1 represent in FIX protocol? This a real FIX protocol question which was asked to me on an interview with a sell side firm.