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Intense, real-world, memorable - gamified simulation training

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Futures and Forwards Course

Participants step into the role of financial traders and risk managers, using futures and forwards to hedge, speculate, and manage exposures in real time with our Futures and Forwards Course.

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Futures and Forwards Course Overview


The Futures and Forwards Course plunges participants into the world of derivatives trading, where decisions must be made quickly and backed by financial insight.

Designed by derivatives specialists and trading educators, the course allows participants to use forward contracts and futures to manage risk, lock in prices, and take positions based on market forecasts. With evolving market data, they must assess exposures, anticipate volatility, and defend their strategies.

This course mirrors the real-world tension between hedging and speculation and helps participants appreciate how even small miscalculations can lead to significant financial impact.
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Futures and Forwards Course Concepts


The course brings to life critical concepts from financial markets and derivatives, including:

  • Futures vs Forwards: Understanding contract structure, standardization, and counterparty risk

  • Hedging Strategies: Using contracts to offset risk in commodities, interest rates, or FX

  • Speculative Strategies: Taking directional views to profit from market movement

  • Basis Risk and Convergence: Managing the difference between spot and futures prices

  • Margining and Mark-to-Market: Tracking daily settlements and capital requirements

  • Settlement and Delivery Mechanisms

  • Risk-Reward Trade-offs: Balancing potential gain with exposure and leverage

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Gameflow


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What Participants Do


In this single or multiplayer course, participants act as portfolio managers or corporate treasurers facing real-world market exposures. They must:

  • Interpret market data and forecasts across asset classes

  • Decide when to enter or exit futures and forward positions

  • Use contracts to hedge price risk or take speculative positions

  • Monitor gains, losses, and margin calls throughout the course

  • Adjust strategies based on simulated news events or market shocks

  • Report on the effectiveness of their hedging or trading decisions

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What Participants Learn


This course helps participants move from theory to practice in derivative markets. Participants learn to:

  • Differentiate between forwards and futures and apply them appropriately

  • Build effective hedging strategies for common business exposures

  • Execute trades with discipline under time pressure

  • Understand the mechanics of margining, settlement, and risk

  • Evaluate the performance and unintended consequences of their strategies

  • Communicate derivatives decisions clearly to internal stakeholders

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Why This Futures and Forwards Course Works


Derivatives are often one of the most abstract areas of finance education. This course makes it concrete and compelling by placing participants in the hot seat - where every contract has real consequences.

The course’s dynamic pricing, margining, and news-driven market environment replicates the real-world pressures traders face daily. It also helps demystify common participants confusion between hedging and speculation, and between forwards and futures.

Whether used in a financial markets course, treasury management module, or risk management program, this course brings clarity to a complex topic.
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Frequently Asked Questions


  • Do participants need prior experience with derivatives? No prior trading experience is needed, but familiarity with basic financial instruments and market concepts is helpful.

  • Can the course cover both commodity and financial derivatives? Yes. The course includes multiple asset types such as commodities, interest rates, and foreign exchange.

  • How long does it take? It can be delivered in a 3 - 4 hour session or extended over several rounds for deeper trading and performance reviews.

  • Is it suitable for MBAs or undergraduates? Both. The course can be adjusted for depth, with more technical content for advanced participants and simplified versions for introductory classes.

  • How is performance assessed? Participants are evaluated on profitability, effective risk management, responsiveness to news events, and clarity in decision-making reports.

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Enquire

Webinar 20 Oct 2025 23:00

Join this 20-minute webinar, followed by a Q&A session, to immerse yourself in the course.

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Private Demo

Book a 15-minute Zoom demo with one of our experts to explore how the course can benefit you.