A derivative is a financial contract between two parties whose value is based on an agreed-upon underlying asset such as a bond, commodity, currency, interest rate, or stock. Ownership of a derivative does not equate to ownership of the underlying asset. Derivatives can be used for hedging risk by offsetting potential losses or for speculation by making financial bets on the future value of the underlying asset. Common uses of derivatives include managing currency, interest rate, price, and credit risk.

1. A derivative is a contract between two or more parties whose
value / payoff is based on an agreed-upon underlying financial
instrument, index or security(underlying Asset).
Common underlying instruments include bonds, commodities,
currencies, interest rates, market indexes and stock.
A derivative's value is based on an asset, but ownership of a
derivative doesn't mean ownership of the asset.

3. • Share price
• Int.Rate
• Ex.Rate
• comodity
• Rain fall
• Temperature
Betting
• Exposure
• Speculation
• Arbitrage

4. Derivatives can be used either:
• For Risk management (i.e. to “hedge” by providing offsetting
compensation in case of an undesired event, or
• For speculation (i.e. making a financial "bet"). Enhance
returns
• For Arbitrage: Locking the profit by simultaneously entering
into contacts in multiple markets

5. Risk Management
Derivatives are used for different type of risk management
purpose. It includes
• Currency Risk
• Interest Rate Risk
• Price Risk i.e stocks, commodities
• Credit Risk
Example : Hedging
Market
Risk

6. Speculation & Arbitrage
Speculation
Derivatives can be used to acquire risk, rather than to hedge against risk. Thus, some
individuals and institutions will enter into a derivative contract to speculate on the
value of the underlying asset. Speculators look to buy an asset in the future at a low
price according to a derivative contract when the future market price is high, or to sell
an asset in the future at a high price according to a derivative contract when the
future market price is low.
Example
Arbitrage
Locking the profit by simultaneously entering into contacts in multiple markets i.e. buy
instrument in one market and sell in another market. Benefit from the spread in the
markets.
Example

7. Characteristics of the derivative
• The contract is bilateral
• The contract is settled at a future date.
• The value of the contract is derived (hence the term
"derivative") from the value of the underlying asset
referenced by the contract.
• The transactions in the derivatives are settled by the
offsetting/Squaring transactions in the same derivative.

8. Characteristics(conti...)
• No limit in no of units transacted in DM because there is no
physical assets to be transacted.
• Usually Screen Based.
• Only Secondary Market Securities are traded & can’t help in
raising funds to a firm.
• Quite Liquid or transactions can be easily effected.