It is now virtually impossible to be a successful trader or investor without using the all-important derivative instruments--futures and options. So important are these instruments to the financial structure of worldwide markets that activity on futures and options exchanges now far exceeds trades on the world's stock exchanges. "Futures and Options" provides a no-nonsense overview of the current state of the futures and options markets, and covers these topics: history of the markets; electronic trading and the 24 hour-a-day market; profiles of major futures and options exchanges worldwide; over-the-counter derivatives; hedging, spreading, arbitrage, trading systems and market analysis; technical analysis systems; etc. This indispensable guide will give investors and traders the comfort they need to begin or expand their activities using futures and options contracts.