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Foreign Exchange Derivatives

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Foreign Exchange Derivatives
Definition
Any financial instrument that locks in a future foreign exchange rate. These can be used by currency or forex traders, as well as large multinational corporations. The latter often uses these products when they expect to receive large amounts of money in the future but want to hedge their exposureto currency exchange risk. Financial instruments that fall into this category include: currency options contracts, currency swaps, forward contracts and futures contracts.

Types
There are three types of foreign exchange derivatives used for hedging as follows: I. Forward Hedging II. Money Market Hedging III. Option Hedging

Forward Hedging
It refers to the Contract to buy or sell an asset at a given price on a specific date in the future. Investors use this device to avoid major losses if the price of the asset changes dramatically before it is exchanged.

Money Market Hedging
It refers to the Borrowing and lending in multiple currencies, for example to eliminate currency risk by locking in the value of a foreign currency transaction in one's own country's currency.

Option Hedging
It refers to the right to buy or sell foreign exchange at a specified strike price in exchange of a certain option premium either at the option expiration date or during the option period. * If one acquires the right to purchase foreign exchange, it is called the call option. Buyer of the call option pays option premium & it will be the gain for the seller & the option.

* If one acquires the right to sell the foreign exchange, it is called the put option. Buyer of the put option incurs put premium as expenses.

How Companies Use Derivatives To Hedge Risk

Companies use derivatives for hedging risk in foreign exchange. The three most common ways to use derivatives for hedging are presented below for better

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