What Is Contango?

Patrick Curtis

Reviewed by

Patrick Curtis WSO Editorial Board

Expertise:Investment Banking | Private Equity

Contango is atrading术语用来指价格情况of a future for a specific asset is higher than the expected spot price at the time of the expiration of the future. For example, if it is currently January 2012 and the price of a Sept12 gold future is $1800 but the expected price of gold in September 2012 is only $1700, there iscontango.

As a result ofcontango, the future price is expected to tend to the estimated price at the time of expiration as the expiration date approaches. To use the example above, as it gets closer to September 2012 the gold future price will tend to $1700.

Contango is the opposite ofbackwardation.

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Patrick Curtisis a member ofWSO Editorial Boardwhich helps ensure the accuracy of content across top articles on Wall Street Oasis. He has experience in investment banking at Rothschild and private equity at Tailwind Capital along with an MBA from the Wharton School of Business. He is also the founder and current CEO of Wall Street Oasis This content was originally created by memberWallStreetOasis.comand has evolved with the help of our mentors.