When using the Plutus:VaR API, you can include futures in your portfolio submission. Each futures position allows for the following customizable properties:

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Properties

  • Ticker: The unique identifier for the futures contract (e.g., "ES=F" for the S&P 500 E-mini futures).
  • Type: Specifies whether the position is "Long" or "Short".
  • Maturity: The contract expiration date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
  • Quantity: The number of futures contracts held.

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Modeling Different Types of Futures Contracts

Futures contracts can be based on a wide range of underlying assets, including commodities, financial instruments, and currencies. Here are some common types of futures contracts you can model using the Plutus:VaR API:

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Commodity Futures

  • Example: Oil futures (e.g., "CL=F" for crude oil) give you the right to buy or sell a specific quantity of the commodity at a specified price on a future date.
  • Customization: Adjust the Ticker field to represent commodities like oil ("CL=F"), gold ("GC=F"), or agricultural products like corn ("ZC=F").

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Interest Rate Futures

  • Example: Treasury bond futures (e.g., "ZB=F" for 30-year US Treasury Bonds) are used to hedge or speculate on interest rate movements.
  • Customization: Modify the Ticker to reflect interest rate futures, such as "ZB=F" for treasury bonds or "ED=F" for Eurodollar futures.

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Currency Futures

  • Example: Currency futures allow you to trade currency pairs, such as the Euro/USD or GBP/USD.
  • Customization: Set the Ticker field to a currency pair like "6E=F" for Euro futures or "6B=F" for British Pound futures.

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Stock Index Futures

  • Example: Stock index futures, like the "ES=F" for S&P 500 E-mini futures, allow investors to speculate on the movement of the overall stock market or hedge against potential market downturns.
  • Customization: Use tickers like "NQ=F" for Nasdaq futures or "YM=F" for Dow Jones futures.
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