Manage risk and maximize opportunities trading OTC with StoneX
Benefit from superior customizability, relaxed margin requirements and better control over your input costs by trading over the counter (OTC) versus on the exchanges.
StoneX puts the power of the OTC markets in your hands.
Who can benefit from trading over the counter with StoneX?
Elevators
Grow your business with the customized origination tools your producers now expect.
OTC benefits for grain elevators/originators:
- Unique pricing mechanisms embedded into forward contracts allow for increased grain origination
- The ability to help your producers better manage their risk via OTC structures and products
- Qualifying operations can benefit from SXM’s initial and variation margin thresholds
Farmers
Keep control of your bushels and basis while managing your biggest and most volatile expenses.
OTC benefits for farmers/producers:
- Average grain sales on a daily or weekly basis, potentially at prices above the market
- Maintain physical control over bushels and basis
- Interest rate swaps prevent variable rate loans from eating into your bottom line
Corporates
Trade the OTC markets and protect your margins against budget-busting upside price risk.
OTC benefits for food and beverage companies/corporates:
- Better control over key commodity costs and ability to manage profit margins
- Customizable terms for hedging specific quantities over defined periods based on the unique needs of your business
- Deeper liquidity and better pricing
Comprehensive commodity markets coverage
Experience unrivaled OTC trading with StoneX Markets – covering diverse markets from dairy to interest rates, our tailored solutions optimize your exposure and liquidity management.
Markets covered
FAQ
What OTC products does StoneX offer?
The StoneX trade desk can tailor OTC products to meet a wide range of risk profiles and market views. Products range from simple swaps to customized and exotic options to structured products. Below is an overview of the four principal product types we trade:
- Lookalike Options and Swaps: Lookalike Options and Swaps are also known as Plain Vanilla Options or Swaps and are SXM’s most basic OTC product. “Lookalikes” contain the same hedge and optionality features as their exchange-traded equivalent so far as contract specifications of strike price, contract size and expiration date
- Customizable Options: Customizable Options are Lookalike Options with the additional benefit of customizable strike price, contract size and expiration date. While the customizability allows this product to rein in a better hedge for the customer, it does limit the Customized Options optionality from being fungible with the exchange. Due to this lack of fungibility, Customized Options cannot be translated to an exchange-traded equivalent unless and until the option expires to a swap. The swap can then be translated into an exchange-traded equivalent futures position.
- Exotic Options: StoneX Markets utilizes the Exotic Options of Asian, Digital and Barrier options. Because the exchange does not have anything similar to these products, the options are not fungible with an exchange-traded option. However, as with all of our OTC Instruments, credit financing is available to offset margin costs and if the option expires into a swap an EFRP can translate the swap to a corresponding exchange-traded futures position.
- Asian options determine payout by figuring the average of the underlying price over a pre-set period of time. Example, an average of the futures settlement each Friday for a month.
- Digital options also known as Binary or All-Or-Nothing options pay the owner a fixed amount if the market settles at a predetermined level. On the reverse, if it does not settle at that level, the owner receives zero.
- Barrier options also known as “knock out/knock in” “down-and-out/down-and-in” or “up-and-out/up-and-in” are based on the market touching a pre-determined level where the option is either activated (knocked-in) or deactivated (knocked-out).
- Structured Products: Structured Products/Accumulators allow a Customer to “accumulate” short swaps above the current market or long swaps below the current market so long as the market stays within specified range. This range is decided upon by the Broker/Customer with the range limitations typically being marked by an accumulation level on one end and a barrier level on the other end.
To learn more about how these benefits may apply to your specific market view and risk management needs, please contact us.
What are OTC markets?
OTC, or over-the-counter markets, are decentralized platforms where financial instruments such as derivatives are traded directly between two parties without the involvement of an exchange. OTC markets are often used for customized, complex, or illiquid products that cannot be traded on public exchanges. In the commodities market, OTC trading is used to hedge against price volatility risk, which is a common concern for farmers/producers, grain elevators/grain originators, and food and beverage manufacturers.
StoneX can help you navigate a comprehensive array of choices for your hedging needs – from plain vanilla options and swaps to lookalike options, exotic options and structured products.
Our market expertise, advanced platforms, global reach, culture of full transparency and commitment to our clients’ success all set us apart in the financial marketplace.
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Globality
With access to 36+ derivatives exchanges, 180+ foreign exchange markets, nearly every global securities marketplace and numerous bi-lateral liquidity venues, StoneX’s digital network and deep relationships can take clients anywhere they want to go.
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Transparency
As a publicly traded company meeting the highest standards of regulatory compliance in the markets we serve; our financials and record of accomplishment are matters of public record. StoneX’s commitment to “doing the right thing over the easy thing” sets us apart in the industry and helps us build respect, client trust and new partnerships.
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Expertise
From our proprietary Market Intelligence platform, to “boots on the ground” expertise from award-winning traders and professionals, we connect our clients directly to actionable insights they can use to make more informed decisions and achieve their goals in the global markets.
The trading of commodities and derivatives such as futures, options, and swaps involves substantial risk of loss and may not be suitable for all investors. Advisory services as well as the trading of futures and options is available through various subsidiaries of StoneX Group Inc. including but not limited to the FCM Division of StoneX Financial Inc. Public Disclosures for the FCM Division of StoneX Financial Inc. The trading of over-the-counter products or swaps is available through subsidiary StoneX Markets LLC to individuals or firms who qualify under CFTC rules as an eligible contract participant. Please click here for the full disclaimer.
Trading over-the-counter and exchange-traded derivatives is not suitable for all investors and involves substantial risk. StoneX Markets, LLC (“SXM”), a subsidiary of StoneX Group Inc., is a member of the National Futures Association and provisionally registered with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) as a swap dealer. SXM’s products are designed only for individuals or firms who qualify under CFTC rules as an ‘Eligible Contract Participant’ (“ECP”) and who have been accepted as customers of SXM. Any recipient of this material who wishes to express an interest in trading with SXM must first prequalify as an ECP, independently determine that derivatives are suitable for them and be accepted as a customer of SXM. Trading over-the-counter (“OTC”) products or “swaps” involves substantial risk of loss. This is not an offer to buy or sell any derivative. This material does not constitute investment research and does not take into account the particular investment objectives, financial situations, or needs of individual clients or recipients of this material. You are directed to seek independent investment and tax advice in connection with derivatives trading.
StoneX Financial Pte. Ltd. ("SFP") (Co. Reg. No 201130598R) is regulated by Monetary Authority of Singapore and holds a Capital Markets Services Licence (CMS100476) for Dealing in Securities, Collective Investment Schemes, Exchange-Traded Derivatives Contracts, Over-the-Counter Derivatives Contracts, and Spot Foreign Exchange Contracts for the Purposes of Leveraged Foreign Exchange Trading, is an Exempt Financial Advisor under the Financial Advisors Act 2001, and is a Major Payments Institution (PS20200625) under the Payment Services Act 2019 for Cross Border Money Transfers.
StoneX Financial (HK) Limited ("SHK") (CE No.: BCQ152) is regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission for Dealing in Securities and Dealing in Futures Contracts.
SFP acts as an appointed agent for SFL's payment services business.