What happens at the end of a futures contract?
Could you please elaborate on what typically occurs at the conclusion of a futures contract? I'm curious to understand the process in detail. Does the contract simply expire, or are there specific actions taken by the buyer and seller? Are there any penalties for not fulfilling the contract? I'm also interested in knowing how the settlement of the contract is handled, whether it's through cash or delivery of the underlying asset. Thank you for taking the time to explain this to me.