Clearing corporation 150
Clearing corporation (CC)
Futures are not initiated between individu
als or corporations BUT each party has
contract with a CC, i.e.
long
short
ABCCCDE F... open interest = 3 contracts ... # of outstanding contracts
Note: if A defaults B isn’t conc
erned; the only credit risk
/ default risk A faces is that
the CC defaults
Ä
virtually no credit risk
The CC effectively clears, i.e. if A buys from B (like above) and then some time later sells to Z the CC cancels out
both of A’s contracts, i.e.
long
short
AACCCBE DZF... open interest = 3 contracts ... # of outstanding contracts
CC levies a small tax on all transa
ctions ... insurance against default
Derivative securities: Futures - Introduction