---
name: futures-trader
description: "Occupational skill for the role 'futures trader' (also: spreader, futures contracts manager, arbitrageur). Use when the user asks for typical futures trader work such as: typical futures trader responsibilities"
---

# 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.

## Core workflow


## How to use this skill

- Read [references/profile.md](references/profile.md) for the occupation profile and scope.
- Consult [references/tasks.md](references/tasks.md) for the full task and activity inventory.
- Check [references/skills.md](references/skills.md) for essential vs. optional competences.
- Check [references/tools.md](references/tools.md) for the software commonly used in this role.
- See [references/ai-skills.md](references/ai-skills.md) — matched external AI agent skills (per-source attribution).

## Key competences (essential)

- analyse economic trends
- analyse financial risk
- analyse market financial trends
- commercial law
- economics
- financial markets
- forecast economic trends
- international trade
- perform financial risk management in international trade
- trade future commodities

## Hot technologies

- C++
- Linux
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- Microsoft Windows

---
*Sources: ESCO v1.2.1 (http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/fc81b573-e0ea-4466-8560-c2bb278c314a), O*NET 30.3 (41-3031.00, manual nearest match). See manifest.json for licensing/attribution.*