ARTICLESHIP
181 Points
Posted on 22 July 2010
Except Finance "Derivatives" is used in Mathematics(Calculus) & Chemistry also.
In finance, a derivative is a financial contract with a value linked to the expected future price movements of the asset it is linked to - such as a share or a currency. There are many kinds of derivatives, with the most notable being swaps, futures, and options. However, since a derivative can be placed on any sort of security, the scope of all derivatives possible is near endless. Thus, the real definition of a derivative is an agreement between two parties that is contingent on a future outcome.
A common misconception is to refer to derivatives as assets. This is erroneous, since a derivative is incapable of having value of its own. However, some more commonplace derivatives, such as swaps, futures, and options, which have a theoretical face value that can be calculated using formulas, such as Black-Scholes, are frequently traded on open markets before their expiration date as if they were assets.
Derivatives are usually broadly categorized by the:
-
relationship between the underlying and the derivative (e.g., forward, option, swap)
-
type of underlying (e.g., equity derivatives, foreign exchange derivatives, interest rate derivatives, commodity derivatives or credit derivatives)
-
market in which they trade (e.g., exchange-traded or over-the-counter)
-
pay-off profile (Some derivatives have non-linear payoff diagrams due to embedded optionality)
Source:Wikipedia