Derivatives : Meaning, participants, types and more (2024)

Derivatives are contracts that derive their value from the underlying asset. These are widely used to speculate and make money. Some use them as risk transfer vehicle as well. This article covers the following:

What are derivatives

Derivatives are financial contracts whose value is dependent on an underlying asset or group of assets. The commonly used assets are stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities and market indices. The value of the underlying assets keeps changing according to market conditions. The basic principle behind entering into derivative contracts is to earn profits by speculating on the value of the underlying asset in future.

Imagine that the market price of anequity share may go up or down. You may suffer a loss owing to a fall in the stock value. In this situation, you may enter a derivative contract either to make gains by placing an accurate bet. Or simply cushion yourself from the losses in the spot market where the stock is being traded.

Why do investors enter derivative contracts

Apart from making profits, there are various other reasons behind the use of derivative contracts. Some of them are as follows:

  • Arbitrage advantage:Arbitrage trading involves buying a commodity or security at a low price in one market and selling it at a high price in the other market. In this way, you are benefited by the differences in prices of the commodity in the two different markets.
  • Protection against market volatility: A price fluctuation of an asset may increase your probability of losses. You can look for products in the derivatives market which will help you to shield yourself against a reduction in the price of stocks that you own. Additionally, you may buy products to safeguard against a price rise in the case of stocks that you are planning to buy.
  • Park surplus funds: Some individuals use derivatives as a means of transferring risk. However, others use it for speculation and making profits. Here, you can take advantage of the price fluctuations without actually selling the underlying shares.

Who participates in derivatives market

Each type of individual will have an objective to participate in the derivative market. You can divide them into the following categories based on their trading motives:

  • Hedgers: These are risk-averse traders in stock markets. They aim at derivative markets to secure their investment portfolio against the market risk and price movements. They do this by assuming an opposite position in the derivatives market. In this manner, they transfer the risk of loss to those others who are ready to take it. In return for thehedging available, they need to pay a premium to the risk-taker. Imagine that you hold 100 shares of XYZ company which are currently priced at Rs. 120. Your aim is to sell these shares after three months. However, you don’t want to make losses due to a fall in market price. At the same time, you don’t want to lose an opportunity to earn profits by selling them at a higher price in future. In this situation, you can buy a put option by paying a nominal premium that will take care of both the above requirements.
  • Speculators: These are risk-takers of the derivative market. They want to embrace risk in order to earn profits. They have a completely opposite point of view as compared to the hedgers. This difference of opinion helps them to make huge profits if the bets turn correct. In the above example, you bought a put option to secure yourself from a fall in stock prices. Your counterparty i.e. the speculator will bet that the stock price won’t fall. If the stock prices don’t fall, then you won’t exercise your put option. Hence, the speculator keeps the premium and makes a profit.
  • Margin traders: A margin refers to the minimum amount that you need to deposit with the broker to participate in the derivative market. It is used to reflect your losses and gains on a daily basis as per market movements. It enables to get leverage in derivative trades and maintain a large outstanding position. Imagine that with a sum of Rs. 2 lakh you buy 200 shares of ABC Ltd. of Rs 1000 each in the stock market. However, in the derivative market, you can own a three times bigger position i.e. Rs 6 lakh with the same amount. A slight price change will lead to bigger gains/losses in the derivative market as compared to the stock market.
  • Arbitrageurs: These utilize the low-risk market imperfections to make profits. They simultaneously buy low-priced securities in one market and sell them at a higher price in another market. This can happen only when the same security is quoted at different prices in different markets. Suppose an equity share is quoted at Rs 1000 in the stock market and at Rs 105 in the futures market. An arbitrageur would buy the stock at Rs 1000 in the stock market and sell it at Rs 1050 in the futures market. In this process, he/she earns a low-risk profit of Rs 50.

What Are The Different Types Of Derivative Contracts

The four major types of derivative contracts are options, forwards, futures and swaps.

  • Options: Options are derivative contracts that give the buyer a right to buy/sell the underlying asset at the specified price during a certain period of time. The buyer is not under any obligation to exercise the option. The option seller is known as the option writer. The specified price is known as the strike price. You can exercise American options at any time before the expiry of the option period. European options, however, can be exercised only on the date of the expiration date.
  • Futures: Futures are standardised contracts that allow the holder to buy/sell the asset at an agreed price at the specified date. The parties to the futures contract are under an obligation to perform the contract. These contracts are traded on the stock exchange. The value of future contracts is marked to market every day. It means that the contract value is adjusted according to market movements till the expiration date.
  • Forwards:Forwards are like futures contracts wherein the holder is under an obligation to perform the contract. But forwards are unstandardised and not traded on stock exchanges. These are available over-the-counter and are not marked-to-market. These can be customised to suit the requirements of the parties to the contract.
  • Swaps: Swaps are derivative contracts wherein two parties exchange their financial obligations. The cash flows are based on a notional principal amount agreed between both parties without exchange of principal. The amount of cash flows is based on a rate of interest. One cash flow is generally fixed and the other changes on the basis of a benchmark interest rate. Interest rate swaps are the most commonly used category. Swaps are not traded on stock exchanges and are over-the-counter contracts between businesses or financial institutions.

How To Trade In Derivatives Market

  • You need to understand the functioning of derivatives markets before trading. The strategies applicable in derivatives are completely different from that of the stock market.
  • The derivative market requires you to deposit a margin amount before starting trading. The margin amount cannot be withdrawn until the trade is settled. Moreover, you need to replenish the amount when it falls below the minimum level.
  • You should have an activetrading account that permits derivative trading. If you are using the services of a broker, then you can place orders online or on the phone.
  • For the selection of stocks, you have to consider factors like cash in hand, the margin requirements, the price of the contract and that of the underlying shares. Make sure that everything is as per your budget.
    You can choose to stay invested till the expiry to settle the trade. In this scenario, either pay the entire outstanding amount or enter into an opposing trade.
Derivatives : Meaning, participants, types and more (1)

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Derivatives : Meaning, participants, types and more (2024)

FAQs

Derivatives : Meaning, participants, types and more? ›

In a derivative market, there are four participants, namely speculators, arbitrageurs, hedgers, and margin traders.

What are the different types of participants in derivatives? ›

In a derivative market, there are four participants, namely speculators, arbitrageurs, hedgers, and margin traders.

What is the meaning of derivatives and its types? ›

Definition: A derivative is a contract between two parties which derives its value/price from an underlying asset. The most common types of derivatives are futures, options, forwards and swaps. Description: It is a financial instrument which derives its value/price from the underlying assets.

What are the 4 main types of derivatives? ›

The four major types of derivative contracts are options, forwards, futures and swaps.

What is the definition of a derivative? ›

A derivative is a security with a price that is dependent upon or derived from one or more underlying assets. The derivative itself is a contract between two or more parties based upon the asset or assets. Its value is determined by fluctuations in the underlying asset.

What are the 4 types of market participants? ›

Hedgers, speculators, market makers, and institutions are the four mains types of market participants.

Who are the participants in a trade? ›

"Trading participant" refers to Financial Instruments Business Operators (securities companies), Transaction-at-Exchange Operators, Registered Financial Institutions and Commodity Derivatives Business Operators, etc.

What are derivatives examples? ›

Derivative Examples. Derivatives. The underlying asset can be bonds, stocks, currency, commodities, etc. The four types of derivatives are - Option contracts, Future derivatives contracts, Swaps, Forward derivative contracts.

What are the three main derivatives? ›

You're most likely to encounter four main types of derivatives: futures, forwards, options and swaps. As an everyday investor, you'll probably only ever deal directly with futures and options, though.

What are the three basic derivatives? ›

The three basic derivatives (D) are: (1) for algebraic functions, D(xn) = nxn 1, in which n is any real number; (2) for trigonometric functions, D(sin x) = cos x and D(cos x) = −sin x; and (3) for exponential functions, D(ex) = ex.

What are the 5 popular derivatives and how they work? ›

Five of the more popular derivatives are options, single stock futures, warrants, a contract for difference, and index return swaps. Options let investors hedge risk or speculate by taking on more risk. A stock warrant means the holder has the right to buy the stock at a certain price at an agreed-upon date.

What are the functions of derivatives? ›

To sum it up, therefore, the functions of derivatives are as follows: They enable price discovery, improve liquidity of the underlying asset they represent, and finally serve as effective instruments for hedging.

How are derivatives used in real life? ›

It is an important concept that comes in extremely useful in many applications: in everyday life, the derivative can tell you at which speed you are driving, or help you predict fluctuations on the stock market; in machine learning, derivatives are important for function optimization.

What are the two definitions of derivative? ›

The two definitions of a derivative are as follows: By the geometrical approach: The slope of the curve for the given function is called the derivative of a function. By physical approach: The instantaneous rate of change of a function concerning the variable at a point is called the derivative of a function.

What are the 4 categories we use to identify target markets? ›

A target market is a group of potential customers that you identify to sell products or services to. Each group can be divided into smaller segments. Segments are typically grouped by age, location, income and lifestyle.

What are the four 4 common types of market research techniques? ›

There are lots of different ways you could conduct market research and collect customer data, but you don't have to limit yourself to just one research method. Four common types of market research techniques include surveys, interviews, focus groups, and customer observation.

Who are the main participants in a market system? ›

The participants in a market system include: Direct market players such as producers, buyers, and consumers who drive economic activity in the market. Suppliers of supporting goods and services such as finance, equipment and business consulting.

Who are the participants in exchange traded derivatives? ›

Users of Exchange Traded Derivatives

All kinds of small retail investors and large institutional investors use exchange-traded derivatives to hedge the value of portfolios and to speculate on price movements. Banks might hedge the value of their treasuries portfolio by taking an opposite position in treasury futures.

Who are the participants in commodity derivatives market? ›

The participants in the commodity derivatives market include producers, consumers, speculators, and intermediaries.

What are the three participants of the marketplace? ›

The proprietor, employees, and consumers are the three participants in the free business market. The owner contributes the capital or resources and sets the objectives for the organization. The employees work with enthusiasm to achieve those objectives.

How do you trade in derivatives? ›

How to start derivatives trading in India?
  1. Open a Demat and trading account from a broker that suits your requirement.
  2. Once your Demat account is activated, you need to pay a margin amount that you need to maintain till you execute the contract.
  3. You can trade in financial contracts that have an expiry date of 3 months.
Dec 30, 2022

How do you trade in derivatives with examples? ›

Derivative trading lets you hedge your position in the cash market. For example, if you buy a positional stock in the cash market, you can buy a Put option in the derivative market. If the stock tumbles in the cash market, the value of your Put option will increase. Hence, your losses will be minimal or nil.

What are the basic concepts of derivatives? ›

Derivatives are defined as the varying rate of change of a function with respect to an independent variable. The derivative is primarily used when there is some varying quantity, and the rate of change is not constant.

What is an example of a derivative project? ›

A few examples of derivatives are futures, forwards, options and swaps. The purpose of these securities is to give producers and manufacturers the possibility to hedge risks. By using derivatives both parties agree on a sale at a specified price at a later date.

What are derivative strategies? ›

Derivatives trading strategy is the technique traders use in buying and selling derivative contracts. In the world of financial trading, a derivative is a financial contract that derives its value from the performance of an underlying asset, which can be a commodity, stock, currency, or index.

What is the best strategy for derivatives? ›

Here are the most common options trading strategies traders rely on:
  • Buy Call. Long call is one of the most popular investment instruments in options. ...
  • Buy Put. When you buy put, you expect the underlying asset to go down in the future or before the contract expiration date. ...
  • Covered Call Strategy. ...
  • Married Put Strategy.

What are the 4 levels of differentiation? ›

You can differentiate instruction across four main areas: content, process, product, and environment.

What is the four step rule in derivatives? ›

The following is a four-step process to compute f/(x) by definition. Input: a function f(x) Step 1 Write f(x + h) and f(x). Step 2 Compute f(x + h) - f(x). Combine like terms. If h is a common factor of the terms, factor the expression by removing the common factor h.

What are the 5 types of differentiation? ›

Types Of Differentiation Strategy
  • Product Differentiation. Consumers identify a product based on its physical characteristics. ...
  • Service Differentiation. ...
  • Distribution Differentiation. ...
  • Relationship Differentiation. ...
  • Image Differentiation. ...
  • Price Differentiation.
Oct 28, 2021

What is the summary of the derivative? ›

The derivative is the first of the two main tools of calculus (the second being the integral). The derivative is the instantaneous rate of change of a function at a point in its domain. This is the same thing as the slope of the tangent line to the graph of the function at that point.

Who are the participants in currency derivatives? ›

The currency derivatives trading segment in India is dominated by importers, exporters, central banks, banks and corporations.

What are the different types of participants in commodity market? ›

The participants in the commodity derivatives market include producers, consumers, speculators, and intermediaries.

Who are the active participations in derivative market? ›

There are four major participants in the derivatives market, namely – hedgers, speculators, arbitrageurs and margin traders.

Who are the 5 participants in foreign exchange market? ›

The FX (foreign exchange) market is the largest financial market in the world. Banks, commercial companies, hedge funds, central banks and individual speculators participate in it and exchange currencies on a daily basis for both speculative and hedging purposes.

Who are the 6 participants in a foreign exchange market? ›

Foreign exchange markets are made up of banks, forex dealers, commercial companies, central banks, investment management firms, hedge funds, retail forex dealers, and investors.

Who are all the financial market participants? ›

There are two basic financial market participant distinctions, investor vs. speculator and institutional vs. retail. Action in financial markets by central banks is usually regarded as intervention rather than participation.

What is an example of a derivative trade? ›

Common examples of derivatives include futures contracts, options contracts, and credit default swaps. Beyond these, there is a vast quantity of derivative contracts tailored to meet the needs of a diverse range of counterparties.

What are the uses of derivatives? ›

Uses of Derivatives include:
  • Generating option ability.
  • Avoiding payment of taxes.
  • Providing leverage facilities.
  • Hedging or alleviating risks in the underlying.
  • Obtaining exposure for the underlying assets.
  • Switching asset allocations between the different classes of assets.
  • Speculation and generating profits.
Apr 27, 2023

What are the different types of OTC derivatives? ›

Types of OTC Derivatives
  • Interest Rate Derivatives: Here, the underlying asset is a standard interest rate. ...
  • Commodity Derivatives: Commodity derivatives have underlying assets that are physical commodities such as gold, food grains etc. ...
  • Equity Derivatives: ...
  • Forex Derivatives: ...
  • Fixed Income Derivatives: ...
  • Credit Derivatives:

What are the types of commodity derivatives? ›

Derivatives markets involve two types of commodity derivatives: futures and forwards; these derivatives contracts use the spot market as the underlying asset and give the owner control of the same at a point in the future for a price that is agreed upon in the present.

Who are the participants in the futures contract? ›

There are three major players in a Futures contract: Speculators, Hedgers and Arbitrageurs.

What are 4 different types of commodities that can be traded? ›

Commodities that are traded are typically sorted into four categories broad categories: metal, energy, livestock and meat, and agricultural.

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