Oats (ZO) Futures Contract Specifications

What Are Oats (ZO) Futures?

Oats Futures (ZO) provide traders with exposure to this important grain commodity. These contracts allow for speculation on oats price movements, hedging for producers and processors, or diversification within agricultural portfolios.

Contract Size

Contract Size: 5,000 bushels

Example: This contract size allows traders to gain exposure to grains with controlled leverage and risk.

Tick Value and Increment

  • Tick Size: 1/4 cent per bushel
  • Tick Value: $12.50 per tick
  • Point Value: $50.00 per cent

These specifications make Oats (ZO) Futures suitable for traders seeking exposure to grains markets.

Trading Hours

Oats (ZO) Futures trade with extended hours, providing flexibility for traders in different time zones.

  • Trading Hours: Sunday to Friday, 7:00 PM to 7:45 AM and 8:30 AM to 1:20 PM
  • Time Zone: Central Time (CT)

Trading Symbol

Platform Symbol: ZO

Margins

To trade Oats (ZO) Futures, you'll need to meet specific margin requirements. Check with your broker for the latest margin rates and details.

Why Trade Oats (ZO) Futures?

  • Niche exposure within the grains complex
  • Less correlated to major grain markets offering diversification
  • Hedging tool for specialized agricultural producers
  • Responds to unique supply and demand factors
  • Seasonal patterns provide specific trading opportunities

Position Sizing for Oats (ZO) Futures

Proper position sizing is crucial when trading Oats (ZO) Futures. Use our position size calculator to determine the optimal number of contracts based on your risk tolerance and account size.

Position Size Calculator Example

For Oats (ZO) Futures (ZO):

  • Tick Size: 1/4 cent per bushel
  • Tick Value: $12.50 per tick
  • Point Value: $50.00 per cent

If you want to risk $500 with a 10-point stop loss:

Risk per Contract = Stop Loss in Points × Point Value = 10 × 50.00 per cent = $500

Maximum Contracts = Risk Amount ÷ Risk per Contract = $500 ÷ $500 = 1 contract