A market resolves when its question has a definitive answer. At that point, ForecastEx determines the outcome and every contract settles automatically. You don't need to do anything.
What you receive
The winning side receives $1.00 per contract; the losing side receives nothing. Your profit is the $1.00 settlement minus what you paid for the contract and the $0.01 transaction fee (see Fees and costs).
Settlement isn't the only thing a position pays. Contracts also accrue a monthly incentive coupon for as long as you hold them, on both sides of the market — so even contracts that resolve at zero earned coupon income over their life: Incentive coupons.
How the outcome is determined
Each market resolves against a specific data source named in that market's rules before you trade: government agencies, central banks, news organizations, and other recognized institutions. The resolution criterion is fixed at market open and doesn't change.
Reading the resolution criteria before you trade is worth the 30 seconds it takes.
Payout timing
Settlement occurs daily at 1:00 PM Central Standard Time. Contracts resolved before 12:00 PM Central Standard Time settle the same day; contracts resolved at or after 12:00 PM Central Standard Time settle at 1:00 PM Central Standard Time the following day. The payout appears in your account balance at settlement.
If resolution is delayed or under review
Occasionally ForecastEx delays resolution, either because the source agency delays its data release or because ForecastEx initiates a review of the outcome. In these cases, ForecastEx publishes a public notice on its website. Your position remains open until resolution is confirmed.
If a market is canceled
Occasionally a market cannot be resolved: the underlying data wasn't released, the event was postponed, or the outcome can't be determined against the stated criteria. In that case, contracts are refunded. You receive back what you paid for them; transaction fees aren't returned.