Derivatives.
The word itself sounds scary, like something you’d encounter in a calculus classroom or Wall Street boiler room. But derivatives aren’t nearly as perplexing or dangerous as their reputation suggests.
At their core, derivatives are simply financial contracts that derive their value from an underlying asset. This underlying asset can be a commodity, currency, bond, stock, or even an interest rate. Derivatives allow investors to speculate on the future price movements of the asset or hedge against risk.
Now that we’ve defined what derivatives are in plain English let’s dive deeper into the intricacies of these powerful financial tools. Here’s a derivatives crash course for both newbies and seasoned investors alike.
Humans have been using primitive derivative contracts for centuries. In the 1600s, rice futures contracts were developed in the Dojima Rice Exchange in Japan. Farmers and merchants could agree on a fixed future price for rice, helping both parties hedge against volatile price swings.
But derivatives really took off in the 1970s, as the end of the Bretton Woods system and the 1973 oil crisis created currency and commodity volatility. New derivative products like currency and oil futures helped corporations manage this new risk.
In the 1980s and 1990s, derivatives exploded in popularity due to deregulation and financial engineering. Exotic derivatives like credit default swaps and collateralized debt obligations played a central role in the 2008 financial crisis.
However, when used properly, derivatives continue to serve a valuable role in risk management and price discovery. They aren’t going away anytime soon.
There are four primary types of derivatives:
A futures contract obligates the buyer to purchase an asset at a predetermined future date and price. It’s similar to a forward contract, except futures are standardized and traded on an exchange.
Futures are commonly used for commodities like gold, oil, and agricultural products. But there are also futures on financial assets like stocks, bonds, and currencies.
For example, an oil producer could use crude oil futures to lock in a selling price for their future production. It protects them from falling oil prices.
Forward contracts are similar to futures, but they are non-standardized and traded over the counter. The added flexibility makes forwards popular for hedging foreign currency risk.
For example, a European exporter receiving payment in US dollars could enter a forward contract to sell those dollars in the future at a set Euro exchange rate. It insulates them from potential drops in the Euro/USD rate.
Options give the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell the underlying asset at a set price on or before a future expiration date. Calls provide the right to buy, while puts provide the right to sell.
Options can be used to speculate on asset prices. But they also provide flexible hedging opportunities not offered by futures and forwards.
For example, a farmer could buy corn-call options to guarantee a future selling price while retaining the ability to sell at market prices if corn prices rise.
Swaps are derivatives that exchange the cash flows between two parties. Interest rate swaps are the most common type, allowing parties to exchange fixed and floating interest rate payments.
For instance, a company paying floating-rate debt could swap to fixed-rate payments to protect against rising interest rates. Meanwhile, the counterparty with fixed-rate debt can swap to floating to benefit if rates fall.
Now that we’ve covered the main derivative types let’s examine how they actually work in more detail.
At expiration, financial derivatives settle based on the price of the underlying asset relative to the derivative contract terms. Settlement can occur by physical delivery of the asset or a cash payment.
For example, say a gold futures contract has a futures price of $1,700 per ounce. At expiration, if the spot price of gold is $1,800, the seller must pay $100 per ounce to the buyer since the market price exceeds the futures price.
Derivatives get their value from the future price movements of the underlying. A futures price above the spot price indicates an expected increase in the asset’s value. It causes the derivative to trade at a premium to the spot.
Conversely, if futures trade below the spot, the derivative trades at a discount, indicating an expected decline in the underlying asset before expiration.
Options have a more complex payout but also gain value based on the amount the spot price moves relative to the option’s strike price. More movement equals higher profits.
There are two primary reasons investors use derivative contracts:
Speculation: Derivatives like futures, options, and swaps can be used to profit from an asset’s price movements without owning the underlying asset. These leveraged bets provide opportunities for potentially huge gains (and losses).
Hedging: Derivatives can also be used to reduce risk by locking in prices for future buying or selling. It protects against unfavourable price swings that could harm an investor’s position.
Here are some examples of how investors use derivatives to speculate and hedge:
As you can see, derivatives provide a myriad of ways to implement speculative strategies or reduce portfolio risk.
Derivatives, like anything in finance, have their downsides. Critics argue derivatives:
However, when used appropriately, derivatives offer significant advantages:
Hedging
Speculation
Price Discovery
The key is understanding how derivatives work and using them responsibly. With proper risk management, they provide useful tools for investors and corporations.
This occurs when large, unexpected derivative losses destabilize a financial institution or the broader markets. Recent examples include Long Term Capital Management in 1998, AIG in 2008, and Archegos Capital in 2021.
Banks like JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley dominate global derivatives dealing and trading. Other active participants include hedge funds, pension funds, insurers, and corporations.
Derivatives carry risks like volatility, leverage, counterparty credit risk, and improper usage. But used properly for hedging, derivatives reduce risk. Speculators take on added risks in exchange for profit potential.
Derivatives remain controversial but essential elements of the modern financial system. By providing leverage, speculation, and hedging tools, they help investors implement complex strategies.
However, derivatives come with distinct risks and must be used with care and wisdom. A strong understanding of their benefits and dangers is required.
At their best, derivatives foster price discovery, risk transfer, and market efficiency. When misused, they can drive instability and blowups. Mastering derivatives provides great power but also demands great responsibility.
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*The information this blog provides is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as financial or professional advice. The information may not reflect current developments and may be changed or updated without notice. Any opinions expressed on this blog are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author’s employer or any other organization. You should not act or rely on any information contained in this blog without first seeking the advice of a professional. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this blog. The author and affiliated parties assume no liability for any errors or omissions.
