Apparatus for insuring futures contracts against catastrophic loss

摘要

Point-of-sale stations serve as data entry points for customer transactions including various data for insurance unit purchases and renewals, unit cancellations resulting from investor- or broker- initiated sales of insured futures contracts, and insurance-activated sales when the price of the futures contract has declined below the insurance activation price. A central office computer receives, tests and processes the customer transaction data from the multiple point-of-sale stations. The central system provides information concerning the number and type of futures contracts currently insured, as well as how the current investment portfolio matches the current projection of possible loss claims against the insurance plan. By comparing the current price with the purchase price of the futures contract, it is determined when the insured's loss has exceeded the insurance activation price, at which time the futures position is to be sold by the broker. The central system provides periodic reports concerning insurance transactions.