The introduction of a derivative market in India is one of the steps towards developing our market as strong, sound and stable financial market.
Derivatives are important tools in risk management.
Over the last few years, the Indian Capital markets have undergone three major changes, enlisted below:
- SCREEN BASED TRADING has replaced, ages old floor trading.
- DEMAT SHARES have replaced Share certificate giving way to SCRIP LESS TRADING.
- Ban on carry forward trading and introduction of DERIVATIVES: Futures and Options.
DERIVATIVE
A derivative is an instrument whose value is derived from the value of one or more underlying assets. These underlying assets can either be financial assets like Shares, Index, Currency, Interest Rate etc. or non-financial assets like precious metals, cotton, Oil etc.
The four important types of derivatives are:
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Forward contract
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Futures
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Options
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Swap
Futures and options can be traded on stock exchanges. Let us discuss each of these in greater depth.
FORWARD CONTRACT
a forward contract is an agreement in which two parties agree to undertake an exchange of the underlying asset at some future date at a pre-determined price.
A forward contract is a customized contract between two parties, where settlement takes place on a specific date and at a price agreed in advance.
FUTURES
Futures are standard agreements between two parties to undertake a transaction at an agreed price on or before a specified future date. Futures contracts are exchange based standard contracts, which can be traded on regulated exchange:
Uses of futures:
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Speculation
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Arbitrage
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Hedging
OPTION
This is the best form of derivative, which is interesting as well as rewarding, as proper understanding of this instrument can help us in fetching very attractive returns.
An option buyer has the right to buy or sell, but not an obligation to do so.
There are two types of options:
In case of Call option, if prices go up after you have bought those options then you earn profit and if prices go down you loose to the extent of premium amount only.
In case of Put option, if prices go down after your purchase then you benefit whereas if prices go up then you loose to the extent of premium amount.
Both the types of options can be sold or bought. Selling an option, which is also known as option writing should be done very carefully. However option buying is a simpler proposition and also rewarding at the same time.
An option which can only be exercised on the expiry date is called a EUROPEAN style option. Whereas the one which can be exercised at any time before the expiry is called an AMERICAN styled option. However after buying any of these options, if you feel like selling or buying them you can do that as they are freely traded on the stock exchanges. Sensex Index Options are European styled Option whereas options in 31 scrips are American Options.
SWAP
a Swap can be defined as, an exchange of obligations by two parties wherein the ratio of exchange is predetermined. For instance, if two individuals enter into a contract to exchange 1000 infosys shares with 2000 wipro after a month, such kind of a contract can be termed as SWAP. In such contracts depending upon the movement of the underlying shares, profit or loss has to be borne by respective parties.
STRATEGIES
Futures and Options offer different strategies to suit different needs of different individuals so as to yield desired returns. There are innumerable strategies, which if implemented prudently can reap satisfactory returns.
Now we will be witnessing an extremely mature and healthy stock market, which can promise us high returns.
By combining shares, futures and options we can evolve different kinds of strategies that can help us to yield healthy returns. We will be pleased to have you at our office for an in-depth discussion on this highly lucrative and rewarding instrument.