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A POCKET GUIDE TO:
Derivatives
I n s i d e - O u t E d u c a t io n a l P r o g r a m m e
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? What are derivatives?
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Contents
What are derivatives? 1
History 3
Currency option 12
Currency forward 17
Glossary 23
Learn more 29
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1 A pocket guide to Derivatives
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A pocket guide to Derivatives 2
Contractual agreements
between counterparties
Participants in derivatives markets make this possible by
entering into a contractual agreement to exchange cash or
securities at a future date, the value of which is determined
by, but not limited to, the performance of the underlying asset
during the life of the contract. Derivatives can be traded on an
exchange or negotiated privately and traded directly between
two counterparties (“over the counter”).
Although the world of derivatives encompasses a wide variety
of financial instruments, the most common contracts fall into
four categories:
• Swaps: Counterparties agree to exchange a series of
cash flows at a future date
• Options: Counterparties have the right, but not the obligation,
to buy (or sell) an asset at a future date
• Futures: Counterparties are bound by a standardised obligation
to buy (or sell) an asset at a future date
• Forwards: Counterparties are bound by a non-standardised
obligation to buy (or sell) an asset at a future date
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3 A pocket guide to Derivatives
History
The derivatives market has a history of solid, consistent growth
(see chart). Measured by notional amounts outstanding, total
interest rate swaps, options and currency swap contracts
accounted for more than $400 trillion at the end of 2008,
according to the International Swaps and Derivatives Association
(ISDA). There is hardly a financial security or instrument that does
not have a corresponding derivative contract associated with it.
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Source: International Swaps and Derivatives Association. Total interest rate swaps, options and currency swaps
– notional amounts outstanding at year-end, all surveyed contracts.
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The structure and
use of derivatives
contracts
Derivatives contracts generally involve a pair of
counterparties who agree to exchange cash or
securities at a future date. Although this overall
premise applies across all types of derivatives,
each instrument has its own idiosyncracies in
terms of application and execution.
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5 A pocket guide to Derivatives
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A pocket guide to Derivatives 6
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7 A pocket guide to Derivatives
Floating rate 1
A B
Fixed rate 2
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A pocket guide to Derivatives 8
Risks • Operational
Refer to page 7 for general risks of
derivative instruments.
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9 A pocket guide to Derivatives
A B
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A pocket guide to Derivatives 10
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11 A pocket guide to Derivatives
Premium 1
Buyer Seller
If credit event 2 :
full notional amount
If credit event 2 :
physical bonds
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A pocket guide to Derivatives 12
Risks • Operational
• Basis
Refer to page 7 for general risks of
derivative instruments.
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13 A pocket guide to Derivatives
Currency option
Counterparties agree on the right, but not the obligation, to buy
(or sell) currency at a specified exchange rate during a specified
period of time. A form of protection against adverse movements in
exchange rates.
Premium
Buyer Seller
Currency at specified
exchange rate
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A pocket guide to Derivatives 14
Risks • Operational
Refer to page 7 for general risks of
derivative instruments.
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15 A pocket guide to Derivatives
Futures Exchange
Broker 1 Broker 1
Buyer Seller
1 Buyer (long) and Seller (short) agree on size and term period,
and select futures contracts to match desired deal composition.
Risks • Operational
Refer to page 7 for general risks of
derivative instruments.
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17 A pocket guide to Derivatives
Currency forward
Counterparties agree to lock in the price of a currency to buy and
sell at a specific future date i.e., to hedge currency risk.
A B
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A pocket guide to Derivatives 18
Risks • Operational
Refer to page 7 for general risks of
derivative instruments.
1 Depending on how the deal is structured, investors can use two alternative sets of legal documentation: an
International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement (IFEMA) together with a currency forward confirmation;
or a Foreign Exchange Prime Brokerage Agreement (FXPB) coupled with an ISDA Master Agreement, Credit
Support Annex (CSA) and give-up agreements with executing brokers.
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19 A pocket guide to Derivatives
Credit sector
Corporate security
Currency
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A pocket guide to Derivatives 20
Instrument Benefits
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Why Goldman Sachs
Asset Management?
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A pocket guide to Derivatives 22
Multi-layered approach
to risk management
Extensive risk management infrastructure within
portfolio teams of Goldman Sachs Asset Management
is complemented by independent control and operational
support at the firmwide level.
• Firmwide Risk Management Groups provide independent
control and oversight of GSAM investment management
activities. They monitor and examine market, credit,
counterparty, liquidity and operational risk via specialist teams.
• The Investment Management Division Risk Committee
establishes and enforces portfolio risk management guidelines,
processes and limits. It engages with portfolio managers
regarding positions and performance on an ongoing basis,
facilitating regular dialogue and interaction among divisional risk
managers, firmwide control functions, compliance and legal.
• Investment Teams adhere to well-defined portfolio
management guidelines and exposure limits. They utilise
proprietary risk management tools developed, enhanced
and implemented within Goldman Sachs’ trading and
brokerage businesses.
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Glossary
Over the years, the terminology used in the
derivatives industry has expanded as fast as the
size of the market.
The growing complexity of derivatives instruments
has prompted investment professionals to develop
a series of expressions and acronyms that lends
the industry a language of its own.
This section provides a glossary from Goldman
Sachs Asset Management of the most commonly
used terms in the derivatives markets (and in
this guide).
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A pocket guide to Derivatives 24
Basis risk
Risk of a mismatch in price between the hedging instrument and
the underlying asset.
Bilateral
A collateral call by both broker and client.
Collateral
An asset (cash or securities) posted from one counterparty to
another, and held as a guarantee against the value of a specified
portfolio of trades. Commonly referred to as margin, the collateral
also acts to mitigate credit risk.
Collateral call
A demand by a derivatives counterparty for an investor to transfer
cash or securities to collateralise movements in the value of
derivatives contracts.
Confirmation
Statement of all relevant terms and conditions relating to a
particular transaction.
Counterparty
Legal and financial term used to identify a party in a derivatives
contract.
Counterparty risk
Legal and financial term used to identify a party in a derivatives
contract.
Credit event
In the context of a credit default swap, a credit event can include
company restructuring, insolvency or default.
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Credit risk
Risk of the borrower defaulting on its obligations.
Credit Support Annex (CSA)
A legal document used to provide credit protection in a derivatives
transaction by establishing the rules governing the mutual posting
of collateral by counterparties. The deal is documented under
a standard contract developed by the International Swaps and
Derivatives Association (ISDA) called the Master Agreement. The
two counterparties must sign the ISDA Master Agreement and
execute a CSA before they can trade derivatives with each other.
Dynamic hedge
A hedging technique which seeks to limit an investment’s exposure
by adjusting the hedge according to changes in the underlying
security. As the value of the underlying moves, new positions can
be taken in options or futures to offset the movement.
Exchange-traded derivatives contracts
Standardised derivatives contracts (e.g. futures contracts and
options) that are transacted on an organised exchange.
Foreign Exchange Prime Brokerage Agreement (FXPB)
A contractual agreement that enables a party to trade with
multiple foreign-exchange forward counterparties under an
ISDA Master Agreement or an IFEMA, while having all positions
held and maintained by one broker/dealer.
Futures Commission Merchant (FCM)
An entity, such as a broker/dealer, that clears and settles
futures trades conducted over exchanges.
Give-up agreement
Agreement between an FCM and an executing futures broker/
dealer, under which the executing broker/dealer agrees to
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A pocket guide to Derivatives 26
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27 A pocket guide to Derivatives
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A pocket guide to Derivatives 28
Operational risk
Risk of loss stemming from potential operational flaws (e.g. poor
due diligence, system malfunctions) on the part of a counterparty
in a derivatives contract.
Over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives contracts
Privately negotiated derivatives contracts that are not transacted
in organised exchanges.
Threshold
Amount by which collateral calls are reduced; the amount of
exposure parties are willing to accept.
Unilateral
A collateral call by a broker.
Value at Risk (VaR)
The maximum amount a portfolio will lose over a certain period of
time with a certain probability.
Variation margin
A top up of the cash collateral requirement that may be required
due to adverse movements in the value of the futures contract.
Variance swap
This type of volatility swap gives a payout that is linear to
variance rather than volatility.
Volatility swap
A forward contract where the underlying is the volatility of a
specified product. This allows investors to speculate on how
volatile a stock will be.
Yield curve risk
Risk of loss stemming from shifts in movements in the yield curve.
Source: GSAM, Investopedia.com and the US Department of Treasury (Comptroller of the Currency
Administrator of National Banks).
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29 A pocket guide to Derivatives
Learn more
Derivatives are constantly evolving in scope and
complexity. Below is a list of Goldman Sachs publications
that help explain the intricacies of these instruments and
explore their role in modern portfolio management.
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A pocket guide to Derivatives 30
Checkbox
The benefits of using derivatives include:
High liquidity
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THIS MATERIAL DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION IN ANY JURISDICTION
WHERE OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT WOULD BE UNAUTHORISED OR UNLAWFUL TO DO SO.
Prospective investors should inform themselves as to any applicable legal requirements and
taxation and exchange control regulations in the countries of their citizenship, residence or
domicile which might be relevant.
The portfolio risk management process includes an effort to monitor and manage risk, but does
not imply low risk.
GSAM leverages the resources of Goldman Sachs & Co. subject to Chinese Wall restrictions.
Past performance is not indicative of future results, which may vary. The value of investments
and the income derived from investments can go down as well as up. Future returns are not
guaranteed, and a loss of principal may occur.
Opinions expressed are current opinions as of the date appearing in this material only. No part of
this material may, without GSAM’s prior written consent, be (i) copied, photocopied or duplicated
in any form, by any means, or (ii) distributed to any person that is not an employee, officer,
director, or authorised agent of the recipient.
Derivatives often involve a high degree of financial risk because a relatively small movement
in the price of the underlying security or benchmark may result in a disproportionately large
movement in the price of the derivative and are not suitable for all investors. No representation
regarding the suitability of these instruments and strategies for a particular investor is made.
This material has been prepared by GSAM and is not a product of the Goldman Sachs Global
Investment Research (GIR) Department. The views and opinions expressed may differ from
the views and opinions expressed by the GIR Department or other departments or divisions of
Goldman Sachs and its affiliates. Investors are urged to consult with their financial advisors
before buying or selling any securities. This information should not be relied upon in making an
investment decision. GSAM has no obligation to provide any updates or changes.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: In the United Kingdom, this is a financial promotion and has been approved
solely for the purposes of Section 21 of the Financial Services Markets Act 2000 by Goldman Sachs
Asset Management International, which is authorized and regulated in the United Kingdom by the
Financial Services Authority.
Copyright © 2010, Goldman, Sachs & Co. All rights reserved. 34331.OTHER
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