3/30
A class being offered next semester that should be of interest:
ARE 455 – Agribusiness Analytics, taught by Professor Treme.
3/3
Check out this article from the WSJ on the implications for agriculture, particularly soybeans, from a trade war. Especially read to the end in preparation for our class visit from Smithfield representatives on Tuesday 3/13.
And in the 3/3 edition of the Journal there is an interesting article on the life of Leo Melamud, former CEO of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (or CME).
2/26
Read the following WSJ article on margin accounts and margin calls. Is it talking about margin accounts and margin calls that are the same as those we’ve discussed in connection with futures trading? How different are they?
2/10
The VIX and volatility
The VIX is a measure of the market’s perception of market volatility over the next month. It is derived from option contracts for S&P 500 futures. The level of the VIX is the standard deviation of stock market returns over the next month.
Futures on the VIX are traded on the CBOE (formerly Chicago Board Options Exchange). Think of that: futures contracts written on the value of volatility derived from option contracts written on futures contracts for delivery of the S&P 500 Index! And the S&P 500 Index itself is a measure of the average price of the 500 largest stocks on the market. Lots going on there.
Here is a link to VIX futures prices from the CBOE. The fact that VIX futures are high right now reflects high uncertainty over stock returns over the next month. Look at the “Updated Price Charts.” How high was the VIX during the financial crisis in 2009?
1/23
A list of margin requirements for a variety of contracts.
1/11
Find your futures contract assignment for the semester here.
1/3
You will be asked to choose a commodity to follow for the semester and to serve as a correspondent to the class on developments in that market. Here is a list of suggested commodities. We will finalize who covers what commodity when the semester begins.
12/31/17
Recent articles of interest. You will need to be signed in to your Wall Street Journal account to access them.
A recent (12/18) article on Bitcoin futures.
An article (12/7) on delivery locations for oil futures contracts.