A financial hedging arrangement, where two parties agree to trade a certain volume of a product for a set price. These parties do not physically exchange this product in the ‘hedge market’. The product is purchased in a separate ‘physical market’ (e.g. a wholesale electricity ‘spot market’). If the price is higher or lower than the agreed price, then the parties settle the difference between the ‘hedge contract’ and ‘physical market’ prices. See also Electricity Futures Contract and Spot Market.