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How Do Futures Contracts Differ from Forward Contracts in Financial Derivatives?

Futures and forward contracts are both agreements to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a future date. The main difference is standardization and exchange-trading.

Futures are standardized, traded on a regulated exchange, and require daily marking-to-market and margin. Forwards are customized, traded over-the-counter (OTC), and do not have a formal clearing process, leading to higher counterparty risk.

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