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What are derivatives and how are they used in investing?
Derivatives are financial contracts whose value is derived from an underlying asset, such as stocks, bonds, commodities, currencies, interest rates, or market indices. These contracts allow investors to speculate on or hedge against future price movements of the underlying asset without directly owning it.
Common types of derivatives include futures, options, forwards, and swaps.
They serve multiple purposes in the world of investing, including:
Hedging Risk: Investors and companies use derivatives to protect themselves against adverse price movements in the underlying asset.
Speculation: Traders use derivatives to bet on the future direction of an asset's price without owning the asset itself.
Leverage: Derivatives require only a fraction of the underlying asset's value as an initial investment, offering leveraged exposure.
Arbitrage: Arbitrageurs use derivatives to profit from price differences in different markets or between related assets.
Portfolio Diversification: Derivatives, especially options, allow investors to create unique strategies, such as combining positions to manage risk or enhance returns.
Also read: Difference Between Forward and Futures Contracts