What are futures?

Group 1 - Futures are contracts that allow parties to agree on a price for a future transaction, providing certainty in volatile markets [1][4] - The modern futures market began in the mid-19th century with the establishment of the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) in 1848, which standardized contracts and rules for trading [6][8] - Futures markets have expanded beyond agriculture to include a wide range of assets such as crude oil and cryptocurrencies, maintaining the core purpose of locking in prices [9] Group 2 - The primary purpose of futures is to manage risk through hedging, allowing parties to lock in prices and reduce potential losses from market fluctuations [10]