assign

Assign

In futures and options, to select, usually at random, a client with a short position to make delivery on a contract. That is, a clearing house randomly assigns a brokerage with a short position on a futures contract or option to make delivery of the underlying asset to one of the clearing house's clients with a long position on the same contract. When a brokerage is assigned to make a delivery, it also randomly assigns a client with a short position to make the delivery to the brokerage.

assign

To decide which writer of an option or futures contract (the party that is short the security) will be required to perform the terms of the contract. Clearing corporations and brokerage companies usually assign this responsibility in a random manner when the holders of the contracts ask for delivery of the asset specified in the contract.

assign

To transfer one's property rights or contract rights to another.In the context of real property,an assignment is commonly used in three circumstances:(1) An investor signs a contract to purchase real property and reserves the right to assign that contract to some business entity to be created in the future, but still owned or controlled by the same investor. (2) An investor wishes to purchase property anonymously because of fears the owner will increase the asking price if he or she knew the identity of the true purchaser.As a result,the investor employs a straw man to sign the purchase contract,and the contract is then assigned to the ultimate purchaser.(3) A speculative purchaser of condominium units or other property to be built in the future will sign a purchase contract for a fixed price,in the expectation that prices will increase dramatically by the time construction is completed. At that time the speculator may then assign their (below-market price) contract to another for a substantial profit.