Today’s Topic
DERIVATIVES
FUTURES
People hear the word ‘Derivatives’ and panic.
Let’s change that.
@Prakrutipatel
What is Derivatives ?
Derivatives is a contract whose value comes
from (or “depends on”) something else.
That “something else” could be:
a stock
a bond
a commodity (like gold or oil)
a currency
an interest rate
Example:
A farmer agrees today to sell wheat to a baker
after 3 months at a fixed price.
If wheat prices go up, the baker wins.
If wheat prices go down, the farmer wins.
That agreement is a derivative — its value
depends on the future price of wheat.
@Prakrutipatel
Types Of Derivatives
Types of Derivatives –
Forwards : Customized contracts to
buy/sell an asset at a fixed price on a
future date.
Futures : Standardized contracts traded
on exchanges to buy/sell in the future.
Options : Give the right (not obligation) to
buy or sell an asset at a fixed price.
Swaps : Agreements to exchange cash
flows (e.g., interest rate swaps, currency
swaps).
👉 These are the main four types of
derivatives used in financial markets.
@Prakrutipatel
Futures Intro
A futures contract is a financial agreement
where two people agree today on:
the asset
the contract price (entry price decided
today)
the expiry date
The market price continues to change freely,
and the profit or loss is settled later by
comparing the entry price with the market
price at exit or expiry.
👉 You are not buying or owning the asset.
👉 You are fixing only your entry price, not the
future market price, for profit or loss
calculation.
Futures compare today’s entry price with a
later market price to decide profit or loss.
@Prakrutipatel
How Futures Work ?
1. A stock (for example, ABC stock) is already
trading in the market.
2. Today’s market price of ABC stock is
around ₹500.
3. A futures contract is entered today at an
entry price of ₹500.
4. The contract lasts over a future time period
(for example, 3 months).
5. During this time, the stock price keeps
changing freely in the market.
6. Profit or loss is decided by comparing the
entry price (₹500) with the market price at
exit or expiry.
👉 The stock is not bought or owned.
👉 Only the price difference is settled in cash.
Key idea to remember:
Futures are based on existing market prices
and track price movement over time, not
future prices.
@Prakrutipatel
Futures for Speculation
Core idea:
👉Use futures to profit from price movement.
A trader believes the stock price will
change
Enters a futures contract at today’s entry
price
Exits later when the price moves
Profit or loss = price difference
Example:
ABC stock is trading at ₹500
Futures entry price = ₹500
Later:
Price becomes ₹600 → Profit = ₹100
Price becomes ₹400 → Loss = ₹100
👉 The stock is not owned.
👉 Goal is profit, not protection.
@Prakrutipatel
Futures for Hedging
Core idea:
👉 Use futures to reduce or protect against
loss.
A person already owns a stock
They fear the price may fall
They use futures to offset the risk
Example:
You own ABC stock at ₹500
You fear price may fall
You enter a futures contract at ₹500
Later:
Stock price falls to ₹400
Stock loss = −₹100 ❌
Futures gain = +₹100 ✅
👉 Loss is reduced or neutralized.
👉 Goal is safety, not profit.
@Prakrutipatel
If this helped you
understand futures, more
beginner-friendly guides
are coming next. Options,
Forwards, and Swaps —
explained just as simply.
👉Follow for more
Beginner Series.
@Prakrutipatel