Answer:
If the price of a security represented by the futures contract INCREASED over the year, then these speculators would likely have purchased the futures contract for LESS than they can sell it for.
Step-by-step explanation:
The whole idea behind securities trading is to buy cheap and sell at a higher price. The term speculator usually refers to an investor that only trades with securities to be able to make short term gains, they do not invest money as long term investments. There is nothing wrong with them, it a risky job that yields high gains or extreme losses.