A forward contract is negotiated privately between two parties. There is no exchange involved, no standard contract size, and no daily settlement. Two companies can set whatever terms suit them.
A futures contract works differently. It trades on a regulated exchange such as the NSE. Every contract follows the same lot size, expiry date, and settlement process, which means one party can exit a position without needing the other party's consent.
To trade futures contracts, a person needs to open a trading account with a SEBI-registered broker first.
What is a Futures Contract?
A futures contract is a standardised agreement to buy or sell an asset at a fixed price on a set future date. It trades on a regulated exchange, not between two private parties.
Margin makes futures distinct from a straight cash purchase. A buyer does not pay the full contract value upfront. Instead, the exchange requires an initial margin, a fraction of the total contract value, which is why futures trading carries leverage. (Source: SEBI)
Every futures contract follows fixed terms set by the exchange. These cover the delivery date, the lot size, the quality of the underlying asset, and the settlement method. None of these terms can be changed once the contract is listed.
What is a Forward Contract?
A forward contract is a privately negotiated agreement between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a fixed price on a future date. No exchange sits between the two sides.
These contracts trade over the counter, which means the terms are whatever the two parties agree to. A trading firm and a corporate client can fix a price for crude oil, a currency pair, or a bond, six months out, without involving NSE or any clearing house.
This flexibility comes at a cost. Since there is no clearing house guaranteeing the trade, each party carries counterparty risk, the chance that the other side fails to honour the contract at maturity.
Examples of Forward Contracts and Futures Contracts
Both contract types show up constantly in real trading and hedging situations, though the parties involved and the purpose behind each tend to differ. The examples below cover one forward contract use case and two futures contract use cases.
Forward contract example:
Futures contract examples:
Currency futures for hedging: A trader holding a futures contract on USD-INR can exchange currencies at a pre-agreed rate on a fixed date, which protects against unfavourable currency swings without needing a private OTC deal.
Stock futures for directional trades: A trader buys a stock futures contract at a price below the current market price. If the trade plays out as expected, the trader can exit at a profit, though margin, brokerage, and transaction costs reduce the final realised gain.
The contrast between these examples shows why corporates lean toward forwards for one-off hedging needs, while traders and institutions favour futures for liquidity and ease of exit. (Source: NSE)
Forward Contracts vs. Futures Contracts: Key Differences
Forward and futures contracts both lock in a price for a future transaction, but they diverge sharply on where they trade, how they settle, and who carries the risk if something goes wrong. The table below sets out the core differences side by side.
Feature
| Forward Contract
| Futures Contract
|
Trading venue
| Over-the-counter, private
| Regulated exchange (NSE, BSE)
|
Standardisation
| Fully customisable
| Standardised by the exchange
|
Counterparty risk
| High, no clearing house guarantee
| Low, exchange clearing house guarantees the trade
|
Settlement
| At maturity only
| Daily, through mark to market
|
Margin
| Negotiated between parties, often none
| Mandatory initial and maintenance margin
|
Regulation
| Governed by contract law
| Regulated by SEBI
|
Liquidity
| Low, exit needs counterparty consent
| High, positions closed easily on the exchange
|
When Would a Trader Choose a Forward Contract Over a Futures Contract?
A trader or business picks a forward contract mainly when the standard terms on an exchange do not fit the specific exposure being hedged. Futures contracts work well for liquidity and ease of exit, but forwards exist precisely because not every hedge fits a standard lot size or expiry date.
Custom contract size needed: A company hedging an unusual volume of a commodity can match the forward contract exactly to that quantity, something a standardised futures lot cannot do.
No appropriate futures contract: Many currency pairs, bond maturities, or niche commodities simply don't have an actively traded futures contract on any exchange.
No daily margin calls: A forward contract is only settled at maturity, so a business with tight cash flow won’t be forced to post margin against daily price swings.
Long-dated, one-off hedge: A corporate treasury locking in a rate for a transaction 9 or 12 months out often prefers the certainty of a forward to rolling futures contracts.
Direct relationship with a bank or counterparty: Companies with an existing banking relationship can negotiate forward terms quickly, without the need to onboard to an exchange trading account.
Here, the trade-off is liquidity. The trader gets customisation with a forward contract, but gives up the option of walking away from the position easily before maturity – it takes the other party’s consent to do so.