The Futures Of Movies

Trading of movie box office futures is a step closer to reality with the approval of contracts for the new Trend Exchange by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

The first proposed contract for the exchange is for opening-week receipts for the movie “Takers,” starring Matt Dillon and opening Aug. 20.

In giving its blessing to the exchange, the CFTC said it found that box office receipts fit the law’s definition of a commodity, that the Trend Exchange contracts aren’t “readily susceptible” to manipulation, and they provide a way of managing risk.

Barring fast-tracked legislation to ban the exchanges, futures trading could start in the third quarter.