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Seasonal spread traders are spread traders that take advantage of seasonal patterns by holding long and short positions in futures contracts simultaneously in the same or a related commodity markets based on seasonal patterns. These are traded on futures exchanges such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the New York Mercantile Exchange, or the London Metal Exchange among others.
The spread is the difference between the simultaneous values of these futures contracts. Traders may use a combination of fundamental analysis, technical, and historical factors in their analysis. Speculators hope to profit from the relative changes in price between the initial and offsetting positions. Contracts may be spread against different months or different markets using a calendar effect.
Position traders may hold positions with less risk using spreads as one position somewhat offsets the other position and the return is the difference between the two.