Month codes for futures

Discussion in 'Index Futures' started by cmaxb, Apr 5, 2007.

  1. cmaxb

    cmaxb

  2. My first job on the floor was as a runner (a loooong time ago), I was told the following reasoning behind the letters that are used -

    Letters that could appear as numbers are avoided.

    F is January for "First Month" and then it proceeds from there.
     
  3. It might have something to do with keyboard location. F thru K are side-by-side while the other letters occupy an easier location to keypunch.
     
  4. They used a bowl of alphabet soup.
     
  5. I've heard the same thing. As "F" as first.

    They eliminating "I" and others because clerks/runners would get mixed up, or couldn't read the local's writing.