Core Insights - The essence of futures contract delivery is not merely a point of settlement but a natural transition in the contract lifecycle, serving as a calibration moment for market prices and a testing window for holding strategies [1][2][3] Group 1: Delivery Mechanism - Delivery day acts as a price anchor, reflecting the market consensus on the contract's value, which can help long-term holders assess the effectiveness of their arbitrage strategies [1] - The average price of the underlying index in the last two hours before delivery is used as the settlement price, which helps in correcting any unreasonable price discrepancies [1] Group 2: Strategy Transition - The transition between old and new contracts is crucial for maintaining strategy coherence, with short-term traders advised to monitor the "contract rollover premium" to minimize costs [2] - Long-term investors should plan their rollover strategies based on market expectations, either moving into new contracts before delivery or waiting for clearer trends post-delivery [2] Group 3: Position Assessment - Pre-delivery position assessment is essential for risk management, ensuring that hedging positions align with actual market exposure [3] - Traders must be aware of potential liquidity issues on delivery day, which can lead to unexpected price movements [3] Group 4: Post-Delivery Review - Post-delivery analysis provides an opportunity to identify strategy blind spots and improve future trading decisions, with traders encouraged to maintain a "delivery log" for continuous learning [5] - The process of reviewing actual settlement results against expectations can enhance understanding of market cycles and improve strategy effectiveness over time [5] Group 5: Market Dynamics - Futures delivery is described as a natural rhythm of market operations, where understanding and adapting to this rhythm can lead to more effective trading strategies [5] - Embracing the delivery process rather than resisting it allows traders to better align their strategies with market realities [5]