Spot Price (2024)

The current market price of a security, commodity, or currency

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What is a Spot Price?

Thespot price is the current market price of a security, currency, or commodity available to be bought/sold for immediate settlement. In other words, it is the price at which the sellers and buyers value an asset right now.

Spot Price (1)

Although spot prices can vary by time and geographic regions, the prices are fairly hom*ogenous in financial markets. The uniformity of prices across different financial markets does not allow market participants to exploit arbitrage opportunities from significant price disparities for the same asset in different markets.

Most frequently, spot prices are considered in the context of forwards and futures contracts. One of the reasons for the creation of such financial contracts is to “lock in” the desired spot price of a commodity at some future date because prices constantly change due to fluctuations in supply and demand.

The spot price is a key variable in determining the price of a futures contract. It can indicate expectations about fluctuations in future commodity prices.

Spot Price vs. Future Price

The main difference between spot prices and futures prices is that spot prices are for immediate buying and selling, while futures contracts delay payment and delivery to predetermined future dates.

The spot price is usually below the futures price. The situation is known as contango. Contango is quite common for non-perishable goods with significant storage costs.

On the other hand, there is backwardation, which is a situation when the spot price exceeds the futures price.

In either situation, the futures price is expected to eventually converge with the current market price.

More Resources

Thank you for reading CFI’s guide to Spot Prices and their difference from Futures Prices. To learn more about capital markets and related topics, check out the following resources:

Spot Price (2024)

FAQs

How to determine spot price? ›

There is no mathematical formula for expected spot price. It is more of an economic concept rather than a mathematical part. At any point in time, forces of demand and supply play an essential role in determining the market price.

What is spot price for dummies? ›

What is a Spot Price? The spot price is the current market price of a security, currency, or commodity available to be bought/sold for immediate settlement. In other words, it is the price at which the sellers and buyers value an asset right now.

What is an example of a spot price? ›

Examples of Spot Prices

An asset can have different spot and futures prices. For example, gold may have a spot price of $1,000 while its futures price may be $1,300. Similarly, the price for securities may trade in different ranges in the stock market and the futures market.

How does spot pricing work? ›

In investment terms, spot prices are the current market price of a security, currency, or commodity to be bought or sold at a specific location and time. In layperson's terms, it's the price sellers and buyers currently value the asset. This is different from a futures price, which is sold with a future delivery date.

How is spot calculated? ›

Spot price is determined from polled prices using Trimmed Mean methodology wherein mean is computed after discarding those falling outside pre-determined boundaries on either sides.

How to calculate spot price in options? ›

The SP is more economical than a mathematical value as there is no formula to calculate the spot price. Its demand and supply can only calculate the SP. When there is more demand than supply, the value of SP will increase, whereas when the supply is more than the demand, its value declines.

What is an example of a spot rate? ›

Example of a spot price

In forex, the spot price is sometimes referred to as the spot rate, and it is the quoted exchange rate between two currencies in a forex pair. For example, if the quoted exchange rate for EUR/USD was $1.2354, then that is also the spot rate.

What is the basis of the spot price? ›

The difference between the futures price and spot price of a currency pair is referred to as the basis. Basis can be either positive or negative. It will depend on the current relationship between the short-term interest rates of the base and terms currencies being considered.

What is spot average price? ›

The spot price is the price at which an asset can be bought or sold for immediate delivery of that asset. Convergence is the movement of the price of a futures contract toward the spot price of the underlying cash commodity as the delivery date approaches.

Why is it called spot price? ›

A commodity's spot price is the current cost of that particular commodity, for current purchase, payment, and delivery. In commodity spot contracts, payment is required immediately, as is delivery. The deal is done "on the spot"—hence, the name "spot price."

What is spot price standard? ›

Spot Price Standard

if there is no single price published for such location for such day, but there is published a range of prices, then the Spot Price will be the average of such high and low prices.

What is the expected spot price? ›

The exchange rate between two currencies that is anticipated to prevail in the spot market on a given future date. It differs from the current spot rate primarily by the extent to which inflation expectations in the two currencies differ.

Who pays the spot price? ›

The spot price is the current market price of an asset, like a stock, commodity, or currency. It's the price the buyer pays on the spot. The spot price of an asset is important in determining its future price: the price of an asset agreed upon by a buyer for delivery in the future.

What does spot cost? ›

The company's goal is to offer Spot, or even packs of them, to inspect industrial sites, carry out hazardous missions, and make deliveries. In 2020, the robot went on sale with a price tag of $74,500.

Who determines the spot price? ›

Commodity exchanges rule the market

Where the spot price more accurately originates from the ever-changing market price used as the underlying value for futures contracts on the COMEX.

What is the formula for spot price and forward price? ›

(fair price + future value of asset's dividends) − spot price of asset = cost of capital. forward price = spot price − cost of carry.

How is spot rate determined? ›

The spot rate is calculated by taking the mid-point between the bid and ask prices for a currency in forex trades. That's why it's also called the mid-market rate — it's the midpoint between the price brokers are looking to sell a particular currency for, and what buyers are willing to pay.

How is spot gold price determined? ›

The Spot Price: Typically, when you buy and sell gold bullion the price is agreed on the gold commodity spot price. This is a theoretical price for a set weight of gold prior to being refined, and fluctuates according to supply, demand, and currency strength.

How do you calculate futures spot price? ›

The formula for computing futures prices can be expressed as: Futures Prices = Spot Price * [1 + (RF * (X/365) - D)], where: The risk-free return rate, RF, signifies the rate one can earn throughout the year in a perfect market.

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