You are on page 1of 6

Derivate SAHIL AHMED January 31, 2021

Derivate

1
Collateralized Debt obligations

Meaning and Definitions of Derivatives A securities. Derivatives are securities under the
derivative security is a financial contract SC(R)A and hence the trading of derivatives is
whose value is derived from the value of governed by the regulatory framework under
something else, such as a stock price, a the SC(R)A. A very simple example of
commodity price, an exchange rate, an derivatives is curd, which is derivative of milk.
interest rate, or even an index of prices. The price of curd depends upon the price of
Various Definitions of Derivatives 1. milk which in turn depends upon the demand
Derivatives are financial contracts whose
and supply of milk. LOVELY PROFESSIONAL
value/price is dependent on the behaviour of
UNIVERSITY 3 Unit 1: Introduction to
the price of one or more basic underlying
Derivatives Notes Notes Derivatives vs Shares
assets (often simply known as the underlying).
The subtle, but crucial, difference is that while
These contracts are legally binding
shares are assets, derivatives are usually
agreements, made on the trading screen of
contracts (the major exception to this are
stock exchanges, to buy or sell an asset in
warrants and convertible bonds, which are
future. The asset can be a share, index,
similar to shares in that they are assets). Well,
interest rate, bond, rupee dollar exchange
we can define financial assets (e.g. shares,
rate, sugar, crude oil, soyabean, cotton, coffee
bonds) as: claims on another person or
and what you have. 2. Thus, a 'derivative' is a
corporation; they will usually be fairly
financial instrument, or contract, between
standardized and governed by the property or
two parties that derived its value from some
securities laws in an appropriate country. On
other underlying asset or underlying
the other hand, a contract is merely an
reference price, interest rate, or index. A
agreement between two parties, where the
derivative by itself does not constitute
contract details may not be standardized.
ownership, instead it is a promise to convey
Possibly because it is thought that investors
ownership. The Underlying Securities for
may be wary of the woolly definition of
Derivatives are: (a) Commodities (Castor seed,
derivatives, one frequently comes across
Grain, Coffee beans, Gur, Pepper, Potatoes)
references to "derivatives securities" or
(b) Precious Metals (Gold, Silver) (c) Short-
"derivatives products''. These "securities" and
term Debt Securities (Treasury Bills) (d)
"products" sound fairly solid, tangible things.
Interest Rate (e) Common Shares/Stock (f)
But in many cases there terms are rather
Stock Index Value (NSE Nifty) In the Indian
inappropriately applied to what are really
context the Securities Contracts (Regulation)
contracts. Self Assessment Fill in the blanks: 1.
Act, 1956 (SC(R)A) defines "derivative" to
Derivatives are ………………. whose value/price
include: 1. A security derived from a debt
is dependent on the behaviour of the price of
instrument, share, loan whether secured or
one or more basic underlying assets. 2. A
unsecured, risk instrument or contract for
derivative by itself does not constitute
differences or any other form of security; 2. A
…………..... . 3. A ………… is merely an
contract which derives its value from the
agreement between two parties. 1.2 Types of
prices, or index of prices, of underlying
Derivatives It is observed that financial
Derivate SAHIL AHMED January 31, 2021

derivatives are those assets whose values are innovating newer and newer ones
determined by the value of some other assets, continuously. For example, various types of
called as the underlying. Presently, there are financial derivatives based on their different
bewilderingly complex varieties of derivatives properties like, plain, simple or
already in existence, and the markets are straightforward, composite, joint or hyrid

synthetic, leveraged, mildly leveraged, Options Warrants & Convertibles Swaps Exotic
customized or OTC traded, standardized or (Non – Standard) Figure 1.1: Classification of
organized exchange traded, etc., are available Derivatives 4 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL
in the market. Derivatives Financial UNIVERSITY Derivatives & Risk Management
Commodities Basic Complex Forwards Futures Notes Due to complexity in nature, it is very

difficult to classify the financial derivatives, so because they are built up from either
in the present context, the basic financial forwards/futures or options contracts, or
derivatives which are popular in the market both. In fact, such derivatives are effectively
have been described in brief. The details of derivatives of derivatives. 1.2.1 Popular
their operations, mechanism and trading, will Derivative Instruments The most popularly
be discussed in the forthcoming respective used derivatives contracts are Forwards,
units. In simple form, the derivatives can be Futures, Options and Swaps, which we shall
classified into different categories which are discuss in detail later. Here we take a brief
shown in the Figure 1.1 One form of look at various derivatives contracts that have
classification of derivative instruments is come to be used. 1. Forwards: A forward
between commodity derivatives and financial contract is a customized contract between
derivatives. The basic difference between two entities, where settlement takes place on
these is the nature of the underlying a specific date in the future at today's pre-
instrument or asset. In a commodity agreed price. The rupee-dollar exchange rates
derivatives, the underlying instrument is a is a big forward contract market in India with
commodity which may be wheat, cotton, banks, financial institutions, corporate and
pepper, sugar, jute, turmeric, corn, soybeans, exporters being the market participants. !
crude oil, natural gas, gold, silver, copper and Caution Forward contracts are generally
so on. In a financial derivative, the underlying traded on OTC. 2. Futures: A futures contract
instrument may be treasury bills, stocks, is an agreement between two parties to buy
bonds, foreign exchange, stock index, gilt- or sell an asset at a certain time in the future
edged securities, cost of living index, etc. It is at a certain price. Futures contracts are
to be noted that financial derivative is fairly special types of forward contracts in the sense
standard and there are no quality issues that the former are standardized exchange-
whereas in commodity derivative, the quality traded contracts. Unlike forward contracts,
may be the underlying matters. However, the the counterparty to a futures contract is the
distinction between these two from structure clearing corporation on the appropriate
and functioning point of view, both are almost exchange. Futures often are settled in cash or
similar in nature. Another way of classifying cash equivalents, rather than requiring
the financial derivatives is into basic and physical delivery of the underlying asset.
complex derivatives. In this, forward Parties to a Futures contract may buy or write
contracts, futures contracts and option options on futures. 3. Options: An option
contracts have been included in the basic represents the right (but not the obligation) to
derivatives whereas swaps and other complex buy or sell a security or other asset during a
derivatives are taken into complex category given time for a specified price (the "strike

3
price"). Options are of two types - calls and Anticipation Securities. These are options
puts. Calls give the buyer the right but not the having a maturity of up to three years 3.
obligation to buy a given quantity of the Baskets: Basket options are options on
underlying asset, at a given price on or before portfolios of underlying assets.
a given future date. Puts give the buyer the
right, but not the obligation to sell a given
quantity of the underlying asset at a given 1.1 Government Securities Regulation Act
price on or before a given date. 4. Swaps: 2007 Notes Government Securities
Swaps are private agreements between two Regulations, 2007 have been made by
parties to exchange cash flows in the future the Reserve Bank of India to carry out
according to a prearranged formula. They can the purposes of the Government
be regarded as portfolios of forward LOVELY Securities Act. The Government
PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 5 Unit 1: Securities Regulations, 2007 provides for
Introduction to Derivatives contracts. Swaps transfer of Government securities held
generally are traded OTC through swap in different forms. Government security
dealers, which generally consist Notes of large held in the form of Government
financial institution, or other large brokerage Promissory Notes is transferable by
houses. There is a recent trend for swap endorsement and delivery. A bearer
dealers to mark to market the swap to reduce bond is transferable by delivery and the
the risk of counterparty default. The two person in possession of the bond shall
commonly used swaps are: (a) Interest rate be deemed to be the holder of the bond.
swaps: These entail swapping only the Government securities held in the form
interest related cash flows between the of Stock Certificate, Subsidiary General
parties in the same currency. Example: Ledger account including a constituent
Suppose Party A holds a 10-year 10,000 home Subsidiary General Ledger Account) &
loan that has a fixed interest rate of 7 %, and Bond Ledger Account are transferable,
Party B holds a 10-year 10,000 home loan that before maturity, by execution of forms –
has an adjustable interest rate that will III, IV & V respectively appended to the
change over the "life" of the mortgage. If Government Securities Regulations.
Party A and Party B were to exchange interest Government securities held in subsidiary
rate payments on their otherwise identical general ledger account including a
mortgages, they would have engaged in an constituents' subsidiary general ledger
interest rate swap. (b) Currency swaps: These account or bond ledger account, shall
entail swapping both principal and interest also be transferable by execution of a
between the parties, with the cash flows in deed in an electronic form under digital
one direction being in a different currency signature. A person unable to write,
than those in the opposite direction. Swaps execute or endorse a document, may
may involve cross-currency payments (U.S. apply to the Executive Magistrate to
Dollars vs. Mexican Pesos) and crossmarket execute the document or make
payments, e.g., U.S. short-term rates vs. U.K. endorsement on his behalf after
shortterm rates. 1.2.2 Other Types of Financial producing sufficient documentary
Derivatives 1. Warrants: Options generally evidence about his identity and
have lives of up to one year, the majority of satisfying the Executive Magistrate that
options traded on options exchanges having a he has understood the implications of
maximum maturity of nine months. Longer- such execution or endorsement. Self
dated options are called warrants and are Assessment Fill in the blanks: 6. All
generally traded over-the-counter. 2. LEAPS: futures transactions in the ……………..are
The acronym LEAPS means Long-term Equity regulated by the Commodity Futures
Derivate SAHIL AHMED January 31, 2021

Trading Commission (CFTC). 7. The


derivatives exchange/segment should
have a separate governing council and
representation of trading/clearing
members shall be limited to a maximum
of ……….of the total members of the

5
1.2 governing council. 8. The exchange shall have minimum ……..members. 9. The minimum contract value shall not be less than …………. 2.3 Traders in
Derivates Markets Those who trade or participate in derivative/underlying security transaction may be broadly classified into three categories: 1.
Hedgers (Those who desire to off-load their risk exposure on a position) 2. Speculators (Those willing to absorb risk of hedgers for a cost) 3.
Arbitragers (Those who wish to have riskless gain in the transaction of hedgers and speculators)

You might also like