(1) quality is easy to standardize. In futures trading, futures contracts often change hands many times before they finally enter physical delivery. Every time a futures contract changes hands, it is impossible for buyers and sellers to inspect the goods like spot trading. Therefore, in order to ensure that the physical goods due for delivery meet the quality grade standards listed in the contract, the goods required to enter the futures market for trading must be easy to divide the quality grade.
(2) It can be preserved for a long time and is suitable for transportation.
(3) The spot market of futures commodities should have a large capacity, and the price fluctuates violently and frequently.
(4) The spot market of futures commodities should be relatively developed, and there is no monopolistic behavior.
Generally speaking, only commodities with the above characteristics can be traded in futures.
(5) At present, futures commodities are divided into four categories: agricultural and forestry products, metals, energy and financial products. According to their different natural properties, they can be divided into 10 subcategories, namely, cereals, oilseeds and their products, livestock products, food and beverages, fibers, forest products, metals, energy, foreign exchange and interest rate products, and indexes.
With the development of social economy, futures products will continue to innovate.