What skills does a futures trader need?

A futures trader needs 9 essential skills including economics, financial markets, commercial law, analyse market financial trends, perform financial risk management in international trade. Core competencies include .

Will AI replace futures trader jobs?

The AI disruption score for futures trader is 82/100 (very high risk). Some tasks may be automated but the role will evolve rather than disappear entirely.

AccountancyBusiness and administration associate professionalsISCO 3311

futures trader

Futures traders undertake daily trading activities in the futures trading market by buying and selling futures contracts. They speculate on the futures contracts' direction, trying to make a profit by buying futures contracts they foresee to rise in price and sell contracts they foresee to fall in price.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (9)

economicseconomicsEconomic principles and practices, financial and commodity markets, banking and the analysis of financial data.financial marketsfinancial marketsThe financial infrastructure which permits trading securities offered by companies and individuals govern by regulatory financial frameworks.commercial lawcommercial lawThe legal regulations that govern a specific commercial activity.analyse market financial trendsanalyse market financial trendsMonitor and forecast the tendencies of a financial market to move in a particular direction over time.perform financial risk management in international tradeperform financial risk management in international tradeEvaluate and manage the possibility of financial loss and non-payment following international transactions, in the context of foreign exchange market. Apply instruments like letters of credit.trade future commoditiestrade future commoditiesBuy or sell future commodity contracts on the futures market on your own account or on behalf of a customer or institution in order to make a profit.analyse economic trendsanalyse economic trendsAnalyse developments in national or international trade, business relations, banking, and developments in public finance and how these factors interact with one another in a given economic context.analyse financial riskanalyse financial riskIdentify and analyse risks that could impact an organisation or individual financially, such as credit and market risks, and propose solutions to cover against those risks.forecast economic trendsforecast economic trendsGather and analyse economic data in order to predict economic trends and events.

Optional (15)

financial productsfinancial productsThe different types of instruments that apply to the management of cash flow that are available on the market, such as shares, bonds, options or funds.banking activitiesbanking activitiesThe broad and continuously growing banking activities and financial products managed by banks ranging from personal banking, corporate banking, investment banking, private banking, up to insurance, fo...financial forecastingfinancial forecastingThe tool used in performing fiscal financial management to identify revenue trends and estimated financial conditions.international commercial transactions rulesinternational commercial transactions rulesPre-defined commercial terms used in international commercial transactions which stipulate clear tasks, costs and risks associated with the delivery of goods and services.securitiessecuritiesThe financial instruments traded in financial markets representing both the right of property over the owner and at the same time, the obligation of payment over the issuer. The aim of securities whic...statisticsstatisticsThe study of statistical theory, methods and practices such as collection, organisation, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data. It deals with all aspects of data including the planning of ...international lawinternational lawThe binding rules and regulations in the relations between states and nations, and legal systems dealing with countries rather than private citizens.actuarial scienceactuarial scienceThe rules of applying mathematical and statistical techniques to determine potential or existing risks in various industries, such as finance or insurance.financial jurisdictionfinancial jurisdictionFinancial rules and procedures applicable to a certain location, whose regulatory bodies decide on its jurisdiction.trace financial transactionstrace financial transactionsObserve, track and analyse financial transactions made in companies or in banks. Determine the validity of the transaction and check for suspicious or high-risk transactions in order to avoid mismanag...maintain records of financial transactionsmaintain records of financial transactionsCollate all the financial transactions done in the daily operations of a business and record them in their respective accounts.negotiate sales contractsnegotiate sales contractsCome to an agreement between commercial partners with a focus on terms and conditions, specifications, delivery time, price etc.operate financial instrumentsoperate financial instrumentsWork with financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds and derivatives.trade securitiestrade securitiesBuy or sell tradable financial products such as equity and debt securities on your own account or on behalf of a private customer, corporate customer or credit institution.negotiate sale of commoditiesnegotiate sale of commoditiesDiscuss client's requirements for buying and selling commodities and negotiate their sale and purchase in order to obtain the most beneficial agreement.