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CBOT

Technique

Fist mimics jamming something into head. Two handed version is one fist jamming into other fist.

Origin

"Jan" sounds similar to "jam."

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January

Months CBOT January
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Months CBOT January
Fist mimics jamming something into head. Two handed version is one fist jamming into other fist.
"Jan" sounds similar to "jam."
Months CBOT February
The hand is cupped with the thumb pointed inward toward palm.
Commodity code for February is "G."
Months CBOT March
Fingers are pointed outward and wiggled.
Fingers marching.
Months CBOT April
Index finger and thumb are formed into a right angle.
Commodity code for April is "J."
Months CBOT May
Hand grabs lapel of trading jacket.
Reference to the actress Mae West, who had large breasts.
Months CBOT May (version 2)
Hand touches top of head.
Indicating "me," which sounds like "May." This version is from the 1940s.
Months CBOT June
Index and pinky fingers pointed downward.
Commodity code for June is "M."
Months CBOT July
Index finger is pointed at eye.
Eye rhymes with July.
Months CBOT August
Hands are held with fingers extended and brought together at 45-degree angle.
First letter of month.
Months CBOT September
All fingers are pointed upward to form the letter "U."
Commodity code for September is "U."
Months CBOT September (version 2)
Index finger is extended outward and draws the letter "S" in the air.
First letter of month. This version is from the 1940s.
Months CBOT October
Fingers are curled to form the letter "O."
First letter of the month.
Months CBOT November
Index finger touches nose.
"Nov" sounds like "nose."
Months CBOT December
Tip of middle finger is pressed to tip of index finger.
Fingers form the letter "D" in the space between them. Also resembles "X" for Xmas.
Months CBOT December (version 2)
Arms are crossed to form an "X" across the chest.
"X" for Xmas. This version is from the 1940s.

Months

Futures and options contracts are standardized for monthly expiration cycles and different hand signals evolved to signify each month. Like most signals, the monthly signals were developed based upon simplicity and sometimes based upon the letter of the alphabet which serves as an industry code for each month. For instance, the commodity codes are F - January, G - February, H - March, J - April, K - May, M - June, N - July, Q - August, U - September, V - October, X - November, Z - December.

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