Contracts that allow traders to speculate on the future direction of major US stock market indexes.
US index futures are derivative contracts that obligate the buyer to purchase, or the seller to sell, a standardized amount of a specific US stock market index at a predetermined future date and price. They are widely used by investors to hedge existing positions, speculate on market movements, and gain exposure to broad market trends without directly owning the underlying securities. Declines in index futures can often signal broader market sentiment or anticipated downward pressure on stock prices.