Topic: Futures Contracts

The Texas energy market is facing a $16 billion crisis following the winter storm, with several companies filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The financial failure was exacerbated by windmill operators who were forced to buy energy at $9,000 per megawatt-hour to fulfill futures contracts when their own equipment froze.

Oil prices have dropped below $50 a barrel, leading trading companies to store excess supply in "tank farms" in hopes of a future price increase. The hosts explain that many oil companies are still profitable because they "hedged" their production with futures contracts at higher prices last year. They predict a further price crash once these hedges expire in the summer and storage capacity is fully exhausted.

A producer on the BitMessage channel analyzed the "UNG" natural gas ticker following Adam's theory on the Syrian conflict. The analysis found massive open interest in January 2015 $17 puts, suggesting a major player is betting on natural gas prices remaining above that level. The segment explains complex trading terms like "strike peg" and the selling of "time" in the options market.

Former MF Global CEO Jon Corzine prepares to testify regarding the disappearance of approximately $1.2 billion in customer funds. The missing money primarily belonged to farmers and ranchers using futures contracts for cattle and commodities. Speculation suggests Corzine may invoke the Fifth Amendment to avoid self-incrimination during the hearing.