Difference between options and futures with example
But that allows for an illustration of the differences between options and futures. In this example, one options contract for gold on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) has as its underlying The biggest difference between options and futures is that futures contracts require that the transaction specified by the contract must take place on the date specified. Options, on the other hand, give the buyer of the contract the right — but not the obligation — to execute the transaction.