FORWARD CONTRACT
A customized contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified price on a future date. A forward contract can be used for hedging or speculation, although its non-standardized nature makes it particularly apt for hedging. Unlike standard futures contracts, a forward contract can be customized to any commodity, amount and delivery date. A forward contract settlement can occur on a cash or delivery basis. Forward contracts do not trade on a centralized exchange and are therefore regarded as over-the-counter (OTC) instruments. While their OTC nature makes it easier to customize terms, the lack of a centralized clearinghouse also gives rise to a higher degree of default risk. As a result, forward contracts are not as easily available to the retail investor as futures contracts.
POPULAR TERMS
Accumulation Area
SEC Form DEF13E3
Transaction
IRS Publication 596
Depository Trust Company Tracking - DTCT
POPULAR ARTICLE
SEE FOREX TUTORIAL
Starting Your Own Small Business: Choosing What You Want to Sell
Ethical Investing: Instruments for Ethical Investing
Digesting Financial Statements: Working Capital
A Guide to Your Personal Income Tax: Common Filing Mistakes
Principles of Trading: Well Known Trading Instruments
ECONOMIC CALENDAR
| Time | Country | Indices | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | Leading Indicators | May | |
| 10:00 | Ifo Business Climate Index | Jul | |
| 10:00 | Ifo Current Assessment | Jul | |
| 10:00 | IFO - Expectations | Jul | |
| 10:00 | Private Sector Credit | Jun | |
| 10:00 | M3 Money Supply | Jun | |
| 12:00 | CBI retail sales volume balance | Jul | |
| 14:30 | Durable Goods Orders | Jun | |
| 01:01 | BRC Shop Price Index | Jul |


