Every futures contract has standard specifications set by the exchange. These define how prices move and how profits/losses are calculated:
- Symbol: The short code used to identify the contract (e.g., ES for E-mini S&P 500).
- Instrument Name: Full name of the contract (e.g., E-mini S&P 500 Futures).
- Exchange: Where the contract is traded (CME, NYMEX, CBOT, COMEX, ICE).
- Tick Size: Smallest possible price movement (e.g., 0.25 points).
- Tick Value: Dollar value of one tick movement (e.g., $12.50 per tick).
- Points per Tick: Number of index points in one tick (e.g., 0.25 points).
- Point Value: Dollar value of a full index point (e.g., $50 per point).
Since I mainly trade /ES, /MES, /NQ, and /MNQ based on risk setting and environment, following are my risk value.
| Symbol | Instrument Name | Exchange | Tick Size | Tick Value | Points per Tick | Point Value | Risk(average) Contracts x Points |
| ES | E-MINI S&P 500 | CME | 0.25 | $12.50 | 4 | $50 | 2 contract x 5 points = $500 |
| MES | MICRO E-MINI S&P 500 | CME | 0.25 | $1.25 | 4 | $5 | 10 contracts x 5 points = $250 |
| NQ | E-MINI NASDAQ 100 | CME | 0.25 | $5.00 | 4 | $20 | 2 contacts x 20 points = $400 |
| MNQ | MICRO E-MINI NASDAQ 100 | CME | 0.25 | $0.50 | 4 | $2 | 5 contacts x 20 points = $200 |
| YM | MINI-DOW | CBOT | 1 | $5.00 | 1 | $5 | – |
| MYM | MICRO E-MINI DOW JONES | CBOT | 1 | $0.50 | 1 | $0.5 | – |
| RTY | RUSSELL 2000 | CME | 0.1 | $5.00 | 10 | $50 | – |
| M2K | MICRO E-MINI RUSSELL 2000 | CME | 0.1 | $0.50 | 10 | $5 | – |
| BTC | BITCOIN | CME | 5 | $25.00 | 1 | $25 | – |
| MBT | MICRO BITCOIN | CME | 5 | $0.50 | 1 | $0.50 | – |
| GC | GOLD | COMEX | 0.1 | $10.00 | 10 | $100 | – |
| MGC | E-MICRO GOLD | COMEX | 0.1 | $1.00 | 10 | $10 | – |
| QO | E-MINI GOLD | COMEX | 0.25 | $12.50 | 4 | $50 | – |
| CL | CRUDE OIL | NYMEX | 0.01 | $10.00 | 100 | $1,000 | – |
| MCL | MICRO CRUDE OIL | NYMEX | 0.01 | $1.00 | 100 | $100 | – |
| QM | MINI CRUDE OIL | NYMEX | 0.025 | $12.50 | 40 | $500 | – |
| ZC | Corn | CBOT | 0.25 | $12.50 | 0.25 | $50 | – |
| ZB | 30-Year T-Bond | CBOT | 1/32 | $31.25 | 1/32 | $1,000 | – |
| ZN | 10-Year T-Note | CBOT | 1/32 | $31.25 | 1/32 | $1,000 | – |
| UB | Ultra 30-Year T-Bond | CBOT | 1/32 | $31.25 | 1/32 | $1,000 | – |