A Different Way to Trade the Future
Trade Your View on Economic Indicators, Global Climate Events and Futures Prices
IBKR ForecastTrader lets you use exchange-listed forecast and event contracts to trade your opinion on yes-or-no questions on US economic data, global climate events, or in key futures markets.
Sign Up
Trade Forecast and Event Contracts from ForecastEx and CME
You can trade on two different regulated exchanges. ForecastEx lists forecast contracts on
US economic indicators and global climate events. CME lists event contracts on key futures markets.
Forecast Contracts by ForecastEx LLC
Forecast contracts let you trade on the probabilities associated with the future outcomes of US economic events and global climate events. US economic events include Unemployment Claims, the Consumer Price Index, Retail Sales, Fed Funds, Housing Starts and many others. Global climate events include temperatures and atmospheric CO2.
To trade, simply choose YES or NO on a forecast contract.
Gain Exposure
While Limiting Risk
Forecast contracts provide exposure to US economic events and global climate events while limiting your risk because the max loss on each contract is limited to the price paid for the contract.
For each forecast contract you hold that expires “in the money”, in reference to the underlying settlement value, you receive a fixed payout of USD 1.00. Your max profit per contract is USD 1.00 minus the contract cost, fees and commissions. Forecast contracts are priced between USD 0.01 to USD 1.00 per contract and quoted in USD 0.01 increments.
Zero Commissions on Forecast Contracts
ForecastEx forecast contracts are offered at zero-commission at Interactive Brokers.
Earn Interest Income On ForecastEx Contracts – Current Rate Is 4.83% APR
ForecastEx forecast contracts earn interest income based on the closing market value of the positions. Interest accrues daily and is paid monthly. Interest earned is currently paid at a rate of 4.83% APR.
Example: If you purchase a position at USD 0.50 and the market closes at USD 0.50, the daily interest accrual will be based on USD 0.50. If, on the following day, the market for the same contract closes at USD 0.70, the daily interest accrual will be based on USD 0.70.
CME Event Contracts
CME event contracts let you express your view on whether the price of key futures markets will move up or down by the end of each day's trading session. You can select from CME listed event contracts in the Equity Index, Energy, Metals and Foreign currency futures markets. CME Event contracts are short-term positions good for that trading day only.
To trade, simply choose YES or NO on an event contract.
Gain Exposure
While Limiting Risk
Event contracts provide exposure to key futures markets while limiting your risk because the most you can lose on each contract is the price you pay for the contract.
For each event contract you hold that expires “in the money”, in reference to the underlying futures settlement price, you receive a fixed payout of USD 100.00. Your max profit per contract is USD 100.00 minus the contract cost, fees and commissions. Event contracts are priced between USD 1.00 to USD 99.00 per contract and quoted in USD 1.00 increments.
Interactive Brokers offers a low, transparent commission of just USD 0.10 per event contract.
Interested in Trading Event Contracts
at Interactive Brokers?
Already an Interactive Brokers Client?
Interactive Brokers clients can use their existing login credentials to access IBKR ForecastTrader.
If you already have Futures trading permission, you are permissioned for Forecast and Event Contracts. If you do not have Futures trading permission but would like to trade Forecast and Event Contracts:
- Log in to Portal
- Select User ("head/shoulders") > Settings
- Under Trading, select Trading Permissions
- Select Event Contracts – Request
- Select Request Permissions
- Read and acknowledge legal documents and disclosures
- Select OK
Trading permissions are usually approved overnight.
New to Interactive Brokers? Open an Account.
Interactive Brokers (Nasdaq: IBKR) is an automated global electronic broker that serves individual investors, hedge funds, proprietary trading groups, registered investment advisors and introducing brokers.
Our four-decade focus on technology and automation allows us to provide our clients with a uniquely sophisticated, low-cost global platform for managing investments.
Our clients enjoy low-cost access to stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds and funds from a single unified platform.
Forecast and event contracts can only be traded on the IBKR ForecastTrader website. Open positions in forecast and event contracts can be viewed in your portfolio in Client Portal, TWS, IBKR Mobile, IBKR GlobalTrader and IBKR Desktop.
Forecast and event contracts are only available to eligible clients of Interactive Brokers LLC, Interactive Brokers Hong Kong Limited, Interactive Brokers Singapore Pte. Ltd. and Interactive Brokers Australia Pty. Ltd.