The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is one of the most widely followed
stock indexes. It consists of 30 top-quality blue chip stocks. The cash
value of the DJIA futures contract is calculated by applying a $10
multiplier to the index’s present futures level. For example, if the Dow is
at 15,000, the value of one contract is $150,000 (15,000 x $10 = $150,000).
Each DJIA point move is equal to $10 in the DJIA futures contract. If the
Dow moved 50 points in a day, it would be equivalent to a $500 move in the
DJIA futures contract.
The DJIA futures is widely used by professional and individual investors; it
can be traded throughout the day, even when the stock market is closed.
Regular trading hours for the DJIA futures are from 8:20 AM to 3:15 PM
(Central Time). The market then reopens at 5:55 PM and trades until 6:45 AM.
The market then reopens at 8:20 AM, and the cycle repeats.