Answer: The daily variation margin mitigates counterparty credit risk.

**Explanation:** - **Option A** is incorrect because it describes a characteristic of forward contracts, not futures contracts. In forwards, mark-to-market settlements are deferred until maturity. - **Option B** is incorrect because while the forward price remains fixed until maturity, the futures price fluctuates daily based on market conditions. - **Option C** is correct because futures contracts involve daily settlement through variation margins, which reset the mark-to-market to zero and reduce counterparty credit risk by settling differences daily. This distinction highlights the key differences between forward and futures contracts, particularly in terms of settlement and price behavior.

Author: LeetQuiz Editorial Team