To participate in long-term moves consistent with economic
growth
• To generate long-term profits in pension and retirement
accounts
• To capitalize on short-term market swings
• To protect savings from the negative effects of inflation and
disinflation
• To participate in new growth industries and technology without
the need to actually be involved in these businesses

The other reasons for trading and investing in stocks are examined
in detail later on.
As you can see, the reasons for participating in stocks and futures
are not too dissimilar. The differences between these two vehicles
are, however, significant, particularly in relation to a time frame—
that is, the length of time a position is held—and margin requirements.
The SSF market attempts to marry these two vehicles into
one instrument that seeks to maximize the benefits of each in a
grand and long overdue union. Although the idea of trading futures
on individual stocks has been with us for many years, the regulatory
climate did not permit such trading in the United States until the
implementation of the Commodity Futures Modernization Act
(CFMA). SSF trading in U.S. markets was prompted by the introduction
of Universal Stock Futures at the LIFFE exchange in
London. Now that the market is available, it behooves all serious
investors and traders to become educated in the vehicle that
promises to forever change the investment landscape. Let us now
begin our journey into the SSF market.

 Just see to it that at the 52-week high ( “Hello”). This is the highest price someone paid for the stock over the past year, and it appears in the first column. •

 Find the 52-week low (low). This is the lowest price paid for the balance of last year. The image appears in the second column.

 • Note the symbol. This symbol, used by the exchange to identify the companies that appear in the fourth column. • Check the numbers and the dividend yield, which appear in the fifth and sixth column. “Div” is the amount of cash paid to shareholders annual payment to the most recent quarterly basis. “DMJ” is the dividend divided by the closing price of the title.

 • Observe the seventh column, “Vol” Who will show how many shares changed hands in the capital of the previous trading day.

 • Read the last two columns from the price, the stock closed for the day (Close) and net change (CHG Net “) from the previous day.