# Futures question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futures-question/84316>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 28, 2001, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futures-question/84316 "2001-09-28T15:34:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futures-question/84316/1 "2001-09-28T15:34:28Z")

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Do any of y’all know how to read the futures postings on the Nymex site? For example, what meaningful numbers do you take away from the chart at the [Henry Hub Natural Gas](http://www.nymex.com/markets/quotes.cfm?showAll=on&contract=NG#NG) listing?

```auto

                               MOST PREVIOUS DAY'S
                               RECENT OPEN TOTAL
CONTRACT LAST OPEN HIGH LOW SETTLE CHG INTEREST VOLUME LAST UPDATED
SEP 2001 N/A 2.390 2.440 2.250 2.295* -0.120 6591 0 9/27/01 19:04:55
OCT 2001 N/A 1.880 1.885 1.760 1.830* -0.095 47972 0 9/27/01 08:38:07
NOV 2001 N/A 2.290 2.300 2.210 2.253 0.000 57085 623 9/27/01 16:57:38
DEC 2001 N/A 2.655 2.670 2.595 2.624* -0.009 39435 0 9/27/01 15:58:57
JAN 2002 N/A 2.860 2.865 2.800 2.826 -0.009 41710 95 9/27/01 16:57:32
FEB 2002 N/A 2.855 2.860 2.800 2.826* -0.009 27707 0 9/27/01 14:20:42
MAR 2002 N/A 2.830 2.830 2.770 2.794 -0.011 27845 50 9/27/01 16:57:33
APR 2002 N/A 2.780 2.780 2.720 2.736 -0.014 32694 2 9/27/01 16:57:33

```

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**Author:** ![escapol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90ced4/32.png) [@escapol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/escapol)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futures-question/84316/2 "2001-09-28T17:25:29Z")

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What kind of information are you looking for exactly?

The NYMEX web site explains things pretty well.  
[http://www.nymex.com/markets/cont\_all.cfm?CID=4&cont\_name=specs](http://www.nymex.com/markets/cont_all.cfm?CID=4&cont_name=specs)
