Most brokers or clearing firms will not allow you to hold a position into expiration even if it is cash-settled. You have to check with your broker. If this is the case, then your position may be closed at an unfavorable price. The FDAX will trade the old contract with a higher volume up to the close of Thursday afternoon. On Friday's open, the volume on both contracts is usually favoring the new contract as 13:00 CET approaches. To make matters easier and under your control and to avoid the Final Settlement Procedure, it is best to just close the old position and establish a new one or roll through a calendar spread.Quote from jerryz:
7:00am eastern time is 1:00pm exchange time (13:00 CET) which is the exact time that the contract expires. Do people trade the front month up to expiration day? I don't have volume data so I can't check if volume starts dropping off earlier.
Also, I believe it's cash settlement, correct? If this is the case, then what do you have to fear from accidently not closing your position at expiration?
Thanks.