It was better to get money selling the territory to a neutral country than getting it stolen by an enemy. Purchase of Alaska, 1867. Russia offered to sell Alaska to the United States in 1859, believing the United States would off-set the designs of Russiaâs greatest rival in the Pacific, Great Britain.
The value of the Dow futures is often quoted before the stock market opens as an indicator of how the market will react during the trading day. Trading Dow futures is one way traders attempt to profit from the value changes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Even investors who don't trade futures can use the Dow futures as a forecasting tool.
futures. An agreement to buy goods at a fixed date in the future at a fixed price. Futures are sold where the price of goods fluctuates, for example, there are futures for commodities such as fruit, and also it is possible to buy futures in foreign currencies. If the price fluctuates, above the amount agreed the buyer gains; if the price fluctuates below, the buyer loses.