Futures contracts are written for a specific, finite time period which means they must be rolled over on a regular basis to remain viable. Some contracts, such as crude oil, expire and need to be rolled monthly. Others, such as cotton or gold, expire and can be rolled only on certain specific months of the year. Expiration dates are specified in the contract and will vary with the asset being traded. Before you buy a contract, you should know what the expiration date is and what your rollover options are. Rollover dates are standardized for contracts of different asset classes and are set by each exchange. It’s important to know and track the specific expiration dates and requirements of futures contracts you purchase so that you don’t miss those all important rollover dates. (more…)