6J Contract Specs: Tick Size, Tick Value, and Margin Explained
If you’re trading 6J futures without knowing the tick size, tick value, and margin, you’re basically gambling. The contract isn’t complicated, but every number matters because each one translates directly into real cash risk.
6J Contract Size
The full-size 6J contract represents 12,500,000 Japanese yen. That notional size is why even tiny moves can hit your P&L harder than you expect.
Tick Size and Tick Value
6J trades in increments of 0.0000005. That tiny-looking move is one tick.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Tick size | 0.0000005 |
| Tick value | $6.25 per tick |
| Full point move | $12,500 per 0.01 move |
This is why 6J can look slow until it suddenly isn’t — the leverage stacks fast. If you want examples of leveraged reactions, your BOJ reaction article shows where the biggest candles come from.
Margin Requirements
Margin varies by broker, but the CME baseline gives a good starting point:
- Initial margin: roughly $3,000–$4,000
- Maintenance margin: slightly lower
Some brokers drop day-trading margins to a few hundred bucks, which is how beginners blow accounts. The lower the margin, the easier it is to get liquidated by normal volatility.
How These Specs Affect Actual Risk
Every 10-tick move is $62.50. Every 100 ticks is $625. On days with heavy BOJ or Treasury news, 6J easily moves 300–500 ticks. That’s the entire drawdown on some prop firm accounts in minutes.
This ties directly to your 6J fundamentals — volatility isn’t random, and these specs turn volatility into money gained or lost.
Final Thoughts
Know your contract specs. Tick size, tick value, and margin determine how much pain or profit each move brings. Master this and you stop treating 6J like a mystery and start treating it like a business.