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RISK DISCLOSURE STATEMENT FOR FUTURES & OPTIONS
This brief statement does not disclose all of the risks and other significant
aspects of trading in futures and options. In light of the
risks, you should undertake such transactions only if you understand
the nature of the contracts (and contractual relationships)
into which you are entering and the extent of your exposure to risk.
Trading in futures and options is not suitable for many members of
the public. You should carefully consider whether trading is appropriate
for you in light of your experience, objectives, financial
resources and other relevant circumstances.
Futures
1. Effect of "Leverage" or "Gearing".
Transactions in futures carry a high degree of risk. The amount of
initial margin is small relative to the value of the futures contract
so that transactions are "leveraged" or "geared". A relatively small
market movement will have a proportionately larger impact on
the funds you have deposited or will have to deposit: this may
work against you as well as for you. You may sustain a total loss of
initial margin funds and any additional funds deposited with the
firm to maintain your position. If the market moves against your
position or margin levels are increased, you may be called upon to
pay substantial additional funds on short notice to maintain your
position. If you fail to comply with a request for additional funds
within the time prescribed, your position may be liquidated at a
loss and you will be liable for any resulting defic it.
2. Risk-Reducing Orders or Strategies.
The placing of certain orders (e.g. "stop-loss" orders, where permitted
under local law, or "stop-limit" orders) which are intended
to limit losses to certain amounts may not be effective because
market conditions may make it impossible to execute such orders.
Strategies using combinations of positions, such as "spread" and
"straddle" positions may be as risky as taking simple "long" or
"short" positions.
Options
3. Variable Degree of Risk.
Transactions in options carry a high degree of risk. Purchasers
and sellers of options should familiarize themselves with the type
of option (i.e. put or call) which they contemplate trading and
the associated risks. You should calculate the extent to which the
value of the options must increase for your position to become
profitable, taking into account the premium and all transaction
costs .
The purchaser of options may offset or exercise the options or
allow the options to expire. The exercise of an option results
either in a cash settlement or in the purchaser acquiring or delivering
the underlying interest. If the option is on a future, the
purchaser will acquire a futures position with associated liabilities
for margin (see the section on Futures above). If the purchased
options expire worthless, you will suffer a total loss of your investment
which will consist of the option premium plus transaction
costs. If you are contemplating purchasing deep-out-of-themoney
options, you should be aware that the chance of such
options becoming profitable ordinarily is remote.
Selling ("writing" or "granting") an option generally entails considerably
greater risk than purchasing options. Although the premium received by the seller is fixed, the seller may sustain a
loss well in excess of that amount. The seller will be liable for additional
margin to maintain the position if the market moves
unfavorably. The seller will also be exposed to the risk of the purchaser
exercising the option and the seller will be obligated to
either settle the option in cash or to acquire or deliver the underlying
interest. If the option is on a future, the seller will acquire a
position in a future with associated liabilities for margin (see the
section on Futures above). If the position is "covered" by the seller
holding a corresponding position in the underlying interest or a
future or another option, the risk may be reduced. If the option is
not covered, the risk of loss can be unlimited.
Certain exchanges in some jurisdictions permit deferred payment
of the option premium, exposing the purchaser to liability for
margin payments not exceeding the amount of the premium. The
purchaser is still subject to the risk of losing the premium and
transaction costs. When the option is exercised or expires, the
purchaser is responsible for any unpaid premium outstanding at
that time.
Additional Risks Common to Futures and Options
4. Terms and Condition of Contracts.
You should ask the firm with which you deal about the term and
conditions of the specific futures or options which you are trading
and associated obligations (e.g. the circumstance under which
you may become obligated to make or take delivery of the underlying
interest of a futures contract and, in respect of options,
expiration dates and restrictions on the time for exercise). Under
certain circumstances the specifications of outstanding contracts
(including the exercise price of an option) may be modified by
the exchange or clearing house to reflect changes in the underlying
interest.
5. Suspension or Restriction of Trading and Pricing Relationships.
Market conditions (e.g. illiquidity) and/or the operation of the
rules of certain markets (e.g. the suspension of trading in any
contract or contract month because of price limits or "circuit
breakers") may increase the risk of loss by making it difficult or
impossible to effect transactions or liquidate/offset positions. If
you have sold options, this may increase the risk of loss.
Further, normal pricing relationships between the underlying
interest and the future, and the underlying interest and the
option may not exist. This can occur when, for example, the
futures contract underlying the option is subject to price limits
while the option is not. The absence of an underlying reference
price may make it difficult to judge "fair" value.
6. Deposited Cash and Property.
You should familiarize yourself with the protections accorded
money or other property you deposit for domestic and foreign
transactions, particularly in the event of a firm insolvency or
bankruptcy. The extent to which you may recover your money or
property may be governed by specified legislation or local rules. In
some jurisdictions, property which had been specifically identifiable
as your own will be pro-rated in the same manner as cash for
purposes of distribution in the event of a shortfall.
7. Commission and Other Charges.
Before you begin to trade, you should obtain a clear explanation
of all commission, fees and other charges for which you will be
liable. These charges will affect your net profit (if any) or increase
your loss.
8. Transactions in Other Jurisdictions.
Transactions on markets in other jurisdictions, including marke t s
formally linked to a domestic market, may expose you to additional
risk. Such markets may be subject to regulation which may
offer different or diminished investor protection. Before you trade
you should inquire about any rules relevant to your particular
transactions. Your local regulatory authority will be unable to
compel the enforcement of the rules of regulatory authorities or
markets in other jurisdictions where your transactions have been
effected. You should ask the firm with which you deal for details
about the types of redress available in both your home jurisdiction
and other relevant jurisdictions before you start to trade.
9. Currency Risks.
The profit or loss in transactions in foreign currency-denom inated
contracts (whether they are traded in your own or another
jurisdiction) will be affected by fluctuations in currency rates
where there is a need to convert from the currency denomination
of the contract to another currency.
10. Trading Facilities.
Most open-outcry and electronic trading facilities are supported
by computer-based component systems for the order-routing, execution,
matching, registration or clearing of trades. As with all
facilities and systems, they are vulnerable to temporary disruption
or failure. Your ability to recover certain losses may be subject to
limits on liability imposed by the system provider, the market, the
clearing house and/or member firms. Such limits may vary; you
should ask the firm with which you deal for details in this respect.
11. Electronic Trading.
Trading on an electronic trading system may differ not only from
trading in an open-outcry market but also from trading on other
electronic trading systems. If you undertake transactions on an
electronic trading system, you will be exposed to risk associated
with the system including the failure of hardware and software.
The result of any system failure may be that your order is either not
executed according to your instructions or is not executed at all.
12. Off-Exchange Transactions.
In some jurisdictions, and only then in restricted circumstances,
firms are permitted to effect off-exchange transactions. The firm
with which you deal may be acting as your counterparty to the
transaction. It may be difficult or impossible to liquidate an existing
position, to assess the value, to determine a fair price or to
assess the exposure to risk. For these reasons, these transactions
may involve increased risks. Off-exchange transactions may be
less regulated or subject to a separate regulatory regime. Before
you undertake such transactions, you should familiarize yourself
with applicable rules and attendant risks.
Hypothetical performance results have many inherent limitations, some of which are described below.
No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown.
In fact, there are frequently sharp differences between hypothetical performance results and the actual results
subsequently achieved by any particular trading program.
One of the limitations of hypothetical performance results is that they are generally prepared with the benefit of hindsight.
In addition, hypothetical trading does not involve financial risk, and no hypothetical trading record can completely account
for the impact of financial risk in actual trading. For example, the ability to withstand losses or to adhere to a particular
trading program in spite of trading losses are material points which can also adversely affect actual trading results.
There are numerous other factors related to the markets in general or to the implementation of any specific trading program,
which cannot be fully accounted for in the preparation of hypothetical performance results and all of which can adversely
affect actual trading results.