Corn Futures
What are corn futures?
Corn is the most widely grown crop across the United States. Corn futures are one of the most commonly traded agricultural futures and corn futures contracts are the most active in the oils and seeds futures market. In recent years, CME Group has introduced mini corn futures which are 1/5th the size of the standard corn futures contract.
How to trade corn futures
Corn futures and E-mini corn futures can be traded on the thinkorswim® trading platforms.
Corn futures contract specifications
Considering trading corn futures? Here are the corn futures contract specifications.
|
Exchange, Symbol |
Chicago Board of Trade, /ZC |
| Multiplier | 50 |
| Minimum Tick Size and Value | 0.25 = $12.50 |
| Settlement | Physical1 |
| Trading Hours | 8 pm ET to 8:45 am ET, Sunday – Friday and 9:30 am – 2:20 pm ET, Monday - Friday |
At Schwab, you also get access to advanced trading platforms and education, where you can take advantage of market research, real-time corn futures quotes, and other specialized tools.
Corn FAQ
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Investors can use corn futures to hedge or diversify their portfolio using investments that have a low correlation with their financial assets. Traders can also use corn futures to speculate on the price of corn, which can change based on a number of different factors including fluctuations of crop output by farmers due to weather events, changes in demand of the grain due to consumer trends, changes in demand for fuel including ethanol-based fuel additives, and changes in government subsidy or tax policies, and the value of the U.S. dollar. Options on corn futures are also available.
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It is important to understand the benefits and risks involved with corn futures before placing a futures trade. With corn futures you can trade outside of the traditional market hours associated with equities and take advantage of potential trading opportunities regardless of market direction. Corn futures also provide the ability to trade with greater leverage and can allow a more efficient use of trading capital. However, trading leveraged products like corn futures is not suitable for all investors. It involves risks that greater losses can occur with smaller market movements, and more than your initial investment can be lost.
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Futures trading at Schwab
Take advantage of specialized education, platform, and support.
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