Welcome to the RJO Futures trading terms glossary. Within this glossary, you will find an expansive list of trading terms covering commodity, option, and futures trading terminology. Bookmark this section as a quick reference for definitions of trading terms as you browse the Internet and our site for more information on futures and options trading within the financial and commodities markets.
- Derivative
A financial instrument, traded on or off an exchange, the price of which is directly dependent upon the value of one or more underlying securities, equity indices, debt instruments, commodities, other derivative instruments, or any agreed upon pricing index or arrangement. Derivatives involve the trading of rights or obligations based on the underlying product, but do not directly transfer property—and they are used to hedge risk or to exchange a floating rate of return for a fixed rate of return.