Who are the Users of Derivatives?
Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is derived from an underlying asset or a group of assets. These assets range from stocks, bonds, commodities, currencies, interest rates, or market indices. The derivatives market is a financial marketplace where derivative contracts are bought and sold. Major Users of Derivatives Financial derivatives are used for several purposes,…
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SWAP transactions in capital and Forex Market
A swap is a derivative contract where two parties agree to exchange cash flows or liabilities from different financial instruments over a set period of time. In the other words, a ‘Swap’ is an act of exchanging one thing for another. In derivative market, currencies swap, interest rates swap or commodities swaps are most common. The…
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Difference between forward contract and futures contract explained
A forward contract is an agreement between two parties to buy or to sell an asset at a specified price on a future date. For example, in foreign exchange market ‘forward contract’ means an exchange agreement between two parties to deliver one currency in exchange for another currency at a forward or future date. Futures…
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What is derivative?
In a layman’s language, derivative means profit or loss derived from something. The most common derivative instruments used in financial markets are the forward contract, options, forward rate agreement, futures contract, interest rate swaps etc. The characteristic and value of these derivative instruments are derived from underlying assets like currencies, Interest rates, stocks indices, precious…
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Characteristics & Functions of Derivatives
Derivatives are financial contracts that derive their value from an underlying asset. These contracts play a significant role in the financial markets and exhibit several key characteristics and functions. Characteristics of Derivatives Hedging Hedging involves purchasing one asset to reduce the risk of loss associated with another asset. In finance, this risk management technique focuses…
Options: What are In the Money-ITM and Out of the Money-OTM?
Options are contracts through which a seller gives a buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a specified asset (Ex: Foreign currency, shares, equities, commodities etc.) at a predetermined price, by a certain date. It means they acquire or dispose of the underlying asset at that price called the strike price.…
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