A futures contract is a forward contract, which is traded on an Exchange. Nifty IT Futures Contract would be based on the index Nifty IT index. (Selection criteria for indices)

NSE defines the characteristics of the futures contract such as the underlying index, market lot, and the maturity date of the contract. The futures contracts are available for trading from introduction to the expiry date.

Contract Specifications

Security descriptor

The security descriptor for the Nifty IT futures contracts is:

• Market type : N
• Instrument Type : FUTIDX
• Underlying : NIFTYIT
• Expiry date : Date of contract expiry

• Instrument type represents the instrument i.e. Futures on Index.
• Underlying symbol denotes the underlying index which is NiftyIT
• Expiry date identifies the date of expiry of the contract

Underlying Instrument

The underlying index is Nifty IT.

Trading cycle

Nifty IT futures contracts have a maximum of 3-month trading cycle - the near month (one), the next month (two) and the far month (three). A new contract is introduced on the trading day following the expiry of the near month contract. The new contract will be introduced for a three month duration. This way, at any point in time, there will be 3 contracts available for trading in the market i.e., one near month, one mid month and one far month duration respectively.

Expiry day

Nifty IT futures contracts expire on the last Thursday of the expiry month. If the last Thursday is a trading holiday, the contracts expire on the previous trading day.

Trading Parameters

Contract size

The value of the futures contracts on NiftyIT may not be less than 5 lakhs at the time of introduction. The permitted lot size for futures contracts & options contracts shall be the same for a given underlying or such lot size as may be stipulated by the Exchange from time to time.

Download the file for permitted lot size (.csv)

Price steps

The price step in respect of Nifty IT futures contracts is Re.1 .

Base Prices

Base price of Nifty IT futures Contracts on the first day of trading would be theoretical futures price. The base price of the contracts on subsequent trading days would be the daily settlement price of the futures contracts as computed by Clearing Corporation.

Price bands

There are no day minimum/maximum price ranges applicable for Nifty IT futures contracts. However, in order to prevent erroneous order entry by trading members, operating ranges are kept at +/- 10 %. In respect of orders which have come under price freeze, members would be required to confirm to the Exchange that there is no inadvertent error in the order entry and that the order is genuine. On such confirmation the Exchange may approve such order.

Quantity freeze

The applicable quantity freeze limit shall be based on the level of the underlying index as per the following table:

Index Level
From	To	Quantity Freeze Limit
0	5750	15000
5751	8625	10000
8626	11500	7500
11501	17250	5000
> 17250		2500

Download the file for quantity freeze (.xls)

Order type/Order book/Order attribute

• Regular lot order
• Stop loss order
• Immediate or cancel
• Spread order

An option gives a person the right but not the obligation to buy or sell something. An option is a contract between two parties wherein the buyer receives a privilege for which he pays a fee (premium) and the seller accepts an obligation for which he receives a fee. The premium is the price negotiated and set when the option is bought or sold. A person who buys an option is said to be long in the option. A person who sells (or writes) an option is said to be short in the option.

The options contracts are European style and Phsical settled and are based on the Nifty IT index. (Selection criteria for indices)

Contract Specifications

Security descriptor

The security descriptor for the Nifty IT options contracts is:

• Market type : N
• Instrument Type : OPTIDX
• Underlying : NIFTYIT
• Expiry date : Date of contract expiry
• Option Type : CE/ PE
• Strike Price: Strike price for the contract

• Instrument type represents the instrument i.e. Options on Index.
• Underlying symbol denotes the underlying index, which is NiftyIT
• Expiry date identifies the date of expiry of the contract
• Option type identifies whether it is a call or a put option., CE - Call European, PE - Put European.

Underlying Instrument

The underlying index is NiftyIT.

Trading cycle

Nifty IT options contracts have 7 weekly expiry contracts, 3-month trading cycle - the near month (one), the next month (two) and the far month (three). On expiry of the near(week) month contract, new contracts are introduced at new strike prices for both call and put options, on the trading day following the expiry of the near(week) month contract. The new contracts are introduced for three month duration.

Expiry day

Nifty IT options monthly contracts expire on the last Thursday of the expiry month and weekly contracts expire on every Thursday of the week. If the last Thursday is a trading holiday, the contracts expire on the previous trading day.

Strike Price Intervals

The number of contracts provided in options on index is based on the range in previous day's closing value of the underlying index and applicable as per the following table:

Index Level	Strike Interval	No of Strikes
≤ 2000	50	8-1-8
> 2000 upto ≤ 3000	100	6-1-6
> 3000 upto ≤ 4000	100	8-1-8
> 4000 upto ≤ 6000	100	12-1-12
> 6000	100	16-1-16

Trading Parameters

Contract size

The value of the option contracts on Nifty may not be less than 5 lakhs at the time of introduction. The permitted lot size for futures contracts & options contracts shall be the same for a given underlying or such lot size as may be stipulated by the Exchange from time to time.

Download the file for permitted lot size (.csv)

Price steps

The price step in respect of Nifty IT options contracts is Re.0.05.

Base Prices

Base price of the options contracts, on introduction of new contracts, would be the theoretical value of the options contract arrived at based on Black-Scholes model of calculation of options premiums or the settlement price as computed by Clearing Corporation.

The options price for a Call, computed as per the following Black Scholes formula:
C = S * N (d₁) - X * e^{- rt} * N (d₂)

and the price for a Put is : P = X * e^{- rt} * N (-d₂) - S * N (-d₁)

where :
d₁ = [ln (S / X) + (r + σ² / 2) * t] / σ * sqrt(t)
d₂ = [ln (S / X) + (r - σ² / 2) * t] / σ * sqrt(t)
= d₁ - σ * sqrt(t)

C = price of a call option
P = price of a put option
S = price of the underlying asset
X = Strike price of the option
r = rate of interest
t = time to expiration
σ = volatility of the underlying

N represents a standard normal distribution with mean = 0 and standard deviation = 1 ln represents the natural logarithm of a number. Natural logarithms are based on the constant e (2.71828182845904).

Rate of interest may be the relevant MIBOR rate or such other rate as may be specified.

The base price of the contracts on subsequent trading days, will be the daily settlement price of the options contracts as computed by Clearing Corporation.

Quantity freeze

The applicable quantity freeze limit shall be based on the level of the underlying index as per the following table:

Index Level
From	To	Quantity Freeze
0	5000	15000
5001	7500	10000
7501	10000	7500
10001	15000	5000
15001	30000	2500

Download the file for quantity freeze (.xls)

Order type/Order book/Order attributes

• Regular lot order
• Stop loss order
• Immediate or cancel
• Spread order