Derivatives in Finance

Derivatives in finance are financial instruments that derive their value from the value of the underlying asset. The underlying asset can be bonds, stocks, currency, commodities, etc. The value of this underlying asset experiences movements due to market changes and other factors. The fundamental idea of investing in these assets is to speculate their future price and protect them from volatility.

The major forms of dealing in derivatives are driven by exchange-traded derivatives and over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives. An investor would require a trading account to deal in these forms of investments. However, it is vital to understand that the risk of market volatility is prevalent and one must use proper hedging strategies to mitigate the risk.

• Derivatives in finance are financial instruments that derive value from an underlying asset, index, or reference rate.
• Derivatives play a crucial role in financial markets, allowing participants to manage risk, speculate on price movements, and gain exposure to various asset classes.
• Common derivatives in finance include futures contracts, options contracts, swaps, and forward contracts.
• Derivatives offer leverage, enabling investors to take more prominent positions with a smaller initial investment.

Derivatives in finance are contract that derive their value from an underlying asset and investors make money from these contracts through the movement in price which is created due to the movement in its market value.

Types of derivatives include futures and options, swaps, and forwards. Speculators, hedgers, and investors use derivatives to take full advantage of the market volatility. An investor agrees to buy a particular asset at a specific price; the seller also enters into a similar agreement and when the two entries match, a transaction is registered.

Money is made out of the market movement of the underlying asset, which can be stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, etc. It is vital to understand that these assets are not risk-free, there is always an inherent risk of market volatility.

It is natural that the underlying asset’s nature determines the volatility of the derivative. For instance, stocks are usually more volatile than commodity derivatives in finance. Therefore, depending on the investor’s risk appetite, they choose the asset and use strategies to earn premiums.

Investors, speculators, and hedgers use their knowledge and expertise to hedge the risk using various techniques. Most of these transactions are carried out through exchange-traded derivatives or over-the-counter deals.

The bottom line is although it gives exposure to high-value investment, in the real sense, it is very risky and requires a great level of expertise and juggling techniques to avoid and shift the risk. The number of risks it exposes you to is multiple. Therefore, unless one can measure and sustain the risk involved, investing in a big position is not advisable. Conversely, a well-calibrated approach with a calculated risk structure can take an investor a long way in the world of financial derivatives.

The following are the top 4 types of derivatives in finance. The detailed discussion below will help us understand the intricacies of the concept.

# 1- Future

A futures derivative contract in finance is an agreement between two parties to buy/sell the commodity or financial instrument at a predetermined price on a specified date.

#2 - Forward

A forward contract works in the same way as the futures, the only difference being, it is traded over the counter. So there is a benefit of customization.

#3 - Option

Options in finance  also work on the same principle. However, the biggest advantage of options is that they give the buyer a right and not an obligation to buy or sell an asset, unlike other agreements where exchanging is an obligation.

#4 - Swap

A swap is a derivative contract in finance where the buyer and seller settle the cash flows on predetermined dates.

There are investors/investment managers in the market who are called the market makers. They maintain the bid and offer prices in a given security and stand ready to buy or sell lots of those securities at quoted prices.

Let us understand the uses of commodity derivatives in finance and other types through the explanation below.

#1 - Forward Contract

Suppose a company from the United States is going to receive payment of €15M in 3 months. The company is worried that the euro will depreciate and is thinking of using a forward contract to hedge the risk. This effectively means they fear they will receive less $ when they go out to exchange their € in the market. Therefore by using a forward contract, the company can sell the euro right now at a predetermined overhead rate and avoid the risk of receiving less $.

#2 - Future Contract

To keep it simple and clear, the same example as above can be taken to explain the futures contract. However, the futures contract has some major Differences as compared to forwards. Futures are Exchange-traded. Therefore, they are governed and regulated by the exchange. Unlike forwards, which can be customized and structured as per the parties’ needs. Which is why there is much less credit, counterparty risk in forwards as they are designed according to the parties’ needs.

#3 - Options

An investor has $10,000 to invest; he believes that the price of stock X will increase in a month’s time. The current price is $30; in order to speculate, the investor can buy a 1-month call option with a strike price of let’s say $35. He could simply pay the premium and go a long call on this particular stock instead of buying the shares. The mechanism of our option is exactly the opposite of a call.

#4 - Swaps

Let’s say a company wants to borrow € 1,000,000 at a fixed rate in the market but ends up buying at the floating rate due to some research-based factors and comparative advantage. Another company in the market wants to buy € 1,000,000 at the floating rate but ends up buying at a fixed rate due to some internal constraints or simply because of low ratings. This is where the market for swap is created. Both the companies can enter into a swap agreement promising to pay each other their agreed obligation.

Now that we understand the different types and how these investments work, it is pivotal for us to understand the calculation mechanism used to experience premiums from these deals.

• The payoff for a forward derivative contract in finance is calculated as the difference between the spot price and the delivery price, St-K. Where St is the price at the time contract was initiated, and k is the price the parties have agreed to expire the contract at.
• The payoff for a futures contract is calculated as the difference between the closing price of yesterday and the closing price of today. Based on the difference, it is determined who has gained, the buyer or the seller. Suppose the prices have decreased, the seller gains, whereas if the prices increased, the buyer gains. This is known as the mark to market payment model where the gains and losses are calculated on a daily basis, and the parties are notified of their obligation accordingly.
• The payoff schedule for options is a little more complicated.
  • Call Options: Gives the buyer a right but not an obligation to buy the underlying asset as per the agreement in exchange for a premium, it is calculated as- max (0, St – X). Where St is the stock price at maturity and X is the strike price agreed between by the parties and the 0 whichever is greater. To calculate the profit from this position, the buyer will have to remove the premium from the payoff.
  • Put Options: Gives the buyer a right but not an obligation to sell the underlying asset as per the agreement in exchange for a premium. The calculation schedule for these options is exactly the reverse of calls, i.e., strike minus the spot.
• The payoff for swap contracts is calculated by netting the cash flow for both the counterparties. An example of a simple vanilla swap will help solidify the concept.

Let us understand the advantages of commodity derivates in finance and other types through the points below.

• It allows the parties to take ownership of the underlying asset through minimum investment.
• It allows them to play around in the market and transfer the risk to other parties.
• It allows for speculating in the market. As such, anyone having an opinion or intuition with some amount to invest can take positions in the market with the possibility of reaping high rewards.
• In case of options, one can buy OTC over the counter customized options that suit their needs and make an investment as per their intuition. The same applies to forward contracts.
• Similarly, in the case of futures contracts, counterparty trades with the exchange, so it’s highly regulated and organized.

Despite the various advantages, there are a few factors from the other end of the spectrum that prove to be hassles for investors. Let us understand the disadvantages through the discussion below.

• The underlying assets in the contracts are exposed to high risk due to various factors like volatility in the market, economic instability, political inefficiency, etc. Therefore as much as they provide ownership, they are severely exposed to risk.
• Dealing in derivatives contracts in finance requires a high level of expertise because of the complex nature of the instruments. Therefore a layman is better off investing in easier avenues like mutual funds/ stocks or fixed income.
• Famous investor and philanthropist Warren Buffet once called derivatives’ weapons of mass destruction’ because of its inextricable link to other assets/product classes.

This has been a guide to what are Derivatives in Finance & its definition. Here we discuss the most common derivatives in finance along with its advantages and disadvantages. You can learn more about accounting from the following articles –

• Advantages & Disadvantages of Equity Swaps
• Put Option Payoff
• Embedded Derivatives Meaning
• Interest Rate Derivatives Meaning