The futures market definition is tied to liquidity flows. June 2024 shows upticks in E-mini futures block trades, often preceding institutional rebalancing that can shift index levels sharply over a short period. Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. Futures contracts are agreements to buy or sell a predetermined amount of a commodity or financial product on a specified date. Unlike an actual crypto token or coin , a crypto futures contract has a fixed lifetime, meaning it will expire, or “go off the board,” at some point. A futures contract comes with a list of specifications , or “specs,” that both sides of the trade must understand and uphold, including: Futures market definition helps explain investor reaction to economic data. Rising U.S. GDP forecasts are fueling S&P MidCap futures gains, as cyclical stocks anticipate stronger demand in Q3