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Manage Your Risk with These Three Futures Trading Safe Havens

August 27, 2020 by Daniels Trading| Tips & Strategies

In the real world, the term safe haven refers to a physical place where a person can escape from danger. In finance, a safe haven is an asset that holds or increases its value amid uncertainty. Whether a ship’s captain seeks a harbor to ride out a storm or an investor shifts liquidities to safe havens, the goal is the same: to avoid harm.

When it comes to futures trading risk management, safe-haven contracts give market participants the ability to hedge against catastrophe. Given the appropriate strategic considerations, any number of contracts may function as hedging mechanisms. However, if you’re seeking a true financial safe haven, three contracts rise above the rest: gold, the Japanese yen FX, and Swiss franc FX.

Top Three Futures Safe Havens

Flexibility is one of the key benefits that active futures traders and investors enjoy. From agricultural commodities to foreign currencies, a wide variety of asset classes are readily accessible. Among these listings are several tried-and-true financial safe havens. Here are three of the most prominent.

Gain a competitive advantage in today’s markets. Check out our guide The  Ultimate Guide to Hedging: How to Reduce Risk >>

1. Gold

If you’re interested in futures trading risk management, then the Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s (CME) lineup of gold futures is a great place to begin. In fact, these contracts are ideal for fine-tuning hedging strategies of any size:

Contract Symbol Tick Value Intraday/Maintenance Margins
Full-Sized Gold GC $10.00 $4,510/$8,200
E-mini Gold QO $12.50 $4,100/$4,510
E-micro Gold MGC $1.00 $451/$820

Gold is a valuable asset for managing risk. Historically, the yellow metal has performed exceptionally well during periods of war, market strife, or currency devaluation. Accordingly, embattled traders and investors typically go long gold during recessions, inflationary cycles, or during times of extreme uncertainty.

Amid the global financial crisis of 2008-2012, bullion posted all-time highs above $1,900.00 in August 2011. The summertime rally capped robust 32 percent gains for the first eight months of 2011.

Nearly a decade later, gold futures once again topped the $1,900.00 level amid the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. No matter the nature of the crisis, history tells us that gold is a bona fide safe-haven asset.

2. Swiss Franc FX

Based on the USD/CHF (CHF/USD) major forex pair , the Swiss franc FX is a preeminent risk management contract. Like gold, the Swiss franc holds esteem as one of the world’s most traditional safe havens. Accordingly, the CME offers the public two franc-based contracts:

Contract Symbol Tick Value Intraday/Maintenance Margins
Swiss franc FX 6S $12.50 $4,400/$4,000
E-micro Swiss franc MSF $1.25 $440/$400

Due to Switzerland’s political and financial stability, the Swiss franc FX is viewed as being a premier futures trading risk management vehicle. It regularly exhibits a positive correlation to gold, thus gaining value during equities market downturns or USD inflationary cycles. Given Switzerland’s standing in the global banking industry and neutral political status, francs are considered to be among the world’s safest assets.

3. Japanese Yen FX

At first glance, the Japanese yen doesn’t appear to be a viable candidate for safe-haven status. Japan’s huge government debt loads, rock-bottom interest rates, and stock market volatility make the yen appear risky. Nonetheless, it’s considered to be a valuable diversification tool by investors around the world. On the CME, Japanese yen FX futures come in multiple forms:

Contract Symbol Tick Value Intraday/Maintenance Margins
Japanese Yen 6J $6.25 $1,980/$3,600
E-mini Japanese Yen J7 $6.25 $1,980/$1,800
E-micro Japanese Yen MJY $1.25 $396/$360

In contrast to gold’s tangible value or the Swiss franc’s stability, the Japanese yen FX is a financially based futures trading risk management device. A primary reason for this is Japan’s standing as the world’s top creditor nation, which generates consistently large positive trade balances.

Also, the Japanese yen is a popular conduit for the execution of carry trade strategies. If uncertainty strikes, many investors close carry trade positions out in high-interest rate currencies and move back to yen. The result is a spike in the yen’s demand and value.

Want to Learn More About Futures Trading Risk Management?

As any good trader will tell you, it’s not how much you make, it’s what you don’t lose. The team at Daniels Trading subscribes to this point of view, accounting for risk aggressively and head-on.

To learn more about futures trading risk management, check out Daniels Trading’s e-book The Ultimate Guide to Hedging. Regardless of whether you are an ag commodity producer or a currency day trader, The Ultimate Guide To Hedging is a great place to begin addressing risk on your own terms.

The Ultimate Guide to Hedging: How to Reduce Risk

Filed Under: Tips & Strategies

About Daniels Trading

Daniels Trading is division of StoneX Financial Inc. located in the heart of Chicago’s financial district. Established by renowned commodity trader Andy Daniels in 1995, Daniels Trading was built on a culture of trust committed to a mission of Independence, Objectivity and Reliability.

Risk Disclosure

The StoneX Group Inc. group of companies provides financial services worldwide through its subsidiaries, including physical commodities, securities, exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives, risk management, global payments and foreign exchange products in accordance with applicable law in the jurisdictions where services are provided. References to over-the-counter (“OTC”) products or swaps are made on behalf of StoneX Markets LLC (“SXM”), a member of the National Futures Association (“NFA”) and provisionally registered with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) as a swap dealer. SXM’s products are designed only for individuals or firms who qualify under CFTC rules as an ‘Eligible Contract Participant’ (“ECP”) and who have been accepted as customers of SXM. StoneX Financial Inc. (“SFI”) is a member of FINRA/NFA/SIPC and registered with the MSRB. SFI does business as Daniels Trading/Top Third/Futures Online. SFI is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as a Broker-Dealer and with the CFTC as a Futures Commission Merchant and Commodity Trading Adviser. References to securities trading are made on behalf of the BD Division of SFI and are intended only for an audience of institutional clients as defined by FINRA Rule 4512(c). References to exchange-traded futures and options are made on behalf of the FCM Division of SFI.

Trading swaps and over-the-counter derivatives, exchange-traded derivatives and options and securities involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. The information herein is not a recommendation to trade nor investment research or an offer to buy or sell any derivative or security. It does not take into account your particular investment objectives, financial situation or needs and does not create a binding obligation on any of the StoneX group of companies to enter into any transaction with you. You are advised to perform an independent investigation of any transaction to determine whether any transaction is suitable for you. No part of this material may be copied, photocopied or duplicated in any form by any means or redistributed without the prior written consent of StoneX Group Inc.

© 2023 StoneX Group Inc. All Rights Reserved

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Risk Disclosure

The StoneX Group Inc. group of companies provides financial services worldwide through its subsidiaries, including physical commodities, securities, exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives, risk management, global payments and foreign exchange products in accordance with applicable law in the jurisdictions where services are provided. References to over-the-counter (“OTC”) products or swaps are made on behalf of StoneX Markets LLC (“SXM”), a member of the National Futures Association (“NFA”) and provisionally registered with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) as a swap dealer. SXM’s products are designed only for individuals or firms who qualify under CFTC rules as an ‘Eligible Contract Participant’ (“ECP”) and who have been accepted as customers of SXM. StoneX Financial Inc. (“SFI”) is a member of FINRA/NFA/SIPC and registered with the MSRB. SFI does business as Daniels Trading/Top Third/Futures Online. SFI is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as a Broker-Dealer and with the CFTC as a Futures Commission Merchant and Commodity Trading Adviser. References to securities trading are made on behalf of the BD Division of SFI and are intended only for an audience of institutional clients as defined by FINRA Rule 4512(c). References to exchange-traded futures and options are made on behalf of the FCM Division of SFI.

Trading swaps and over-the-counter derivatives, exchange-traded derivatives and options and securities involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. The information herein is not a recommendation to trade nor investment research or an offer to buy or sell any derivative or security. It does not take into account your particular investment objectives, financial situation or needs and does not create a binding obligation on any of the StoneX group of companies to enter into any transaction with you. You are advised to perform an independent investigation of any transaction to determine whether any transaction is suitable for you. No part of this material may be copied, photocopied or duplicated in any form by any means or redistributed without the prior written consent of StoneX Group Inc.

© 2023 StoneX Group Inc. All Rights Reserved

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