Factors Driving the Growth of Derivatives

Over the last three decades, the derivatives market has seen a phenomenal growth. A large variety of derivative contracts have been launched at exchanges across the world. Some of the factors driving the growth of financial derivatives are:

1. Increased volatility in asset prices in financial markets,

2. Increased integration of national financial markets with the international markets,

3. Marked improvement in communication facilities and sharp decline in their costs

4. Development of more sophisticated risk management tools, providing economic agents a wider choice of risk management strategies

5. Innovation in the derivatives market which optimally combine the risks and return over a large number of financial assets leading to higher returns, reduced risk as well as transactions costs as compared to individual financial assets

6. Education and Awareness programs to general public through seminars and digital media