What are futures contracts primarily concerned with?

Futures contracts are primarily concerned with the future delivery of actual commodities. These contracts are legal agreements to buy or sell a specific quantity of a commodity at a predetermined price at a specified date in the future. This mechanism allows producers and consumers of commodities to hedge against price fluctuations or lock in prices, providing certainty and stability in their financial planning.

In the context of commodities, this could include agricultural products, metals, or energy resources, among others. Futures contracts are not involved with the immediate sale of assets such as stocks, which tend to be traded on the spot market. They also do not relate directly to real estate investments or to the structuring of loans and mortgages, which are different financial instruments entirely. Thus, the emphasis on future delivery is what distinctly characterizes futures contracts.