Futures

Contracts, tick size, margin, and the mechanics of trading ES, NQ, CL, GC and friends.

• What is a futures contract?

  A standardized agreement to buy or sell an asset at a set price on a future date. How futures differ from stocks and options, why they exist (hedging), and who trades them today.
• ES, NQ, CL, GC, ZB — the futures traders actually trade

  S&P 500 (ES), Nasdaq-100 (NQ), Crude Oil (CL), Gold (GC), 30Y Treasuries (ZB), and the micro-sized MES/MNQ. What each contract represents and its dollar value per point.
• Tick size, tick value, and contract multipliers

  One tick on ES = 0.25 points = $12.50. Why every futures contract has its own tick math, and how to size a trade so a stop-out is a survivable dollar loss.
• Futures margin vs stock margin

  Futures use performance-bond margin (a good-faith deposit, often 5-10% of notional), not the 50% Reg-T margin stocks use. Why day-trade margins are even smaller, and how quickly a bad trade eats your account.
• Contract months and rolling to the next quarter

  Why ESZ5 becomes ESH6 in December, how the front month gets most of the volume, and the mechanics of rolling a position without paying a gap.
• Futures sessions: RTH, ETH, and the Globex overnight

  Regular Trading Hours vs Extended, why ES trades ~23 hours a day on CME Globex, and how the overnight session sets the tone for the US cash open.

⚠ Disclaimer: Educational analytics tool only — not investment advice. Signals reflect past price data and may fail without warning. Trading rules and regulations change frequently. Consult a licensed financial advisor or registered stockbroker before making any trade. Cert Training Hub LLC bears no liability for any financial loss resulting from use of this platform.