Capital Markets: Derivatives 2024

Law and Practice

1. General

1.1 Overview of Derivatives Markets

Segments of the Swiss Derivatives Market

The Swiss derivatives market can be divided into the following segments.

• OTC derivatives – the OTC derivatives market consists of the market involving Swiss derivatives dealers trading OTC derivatives with other Swiss or international dealers in the inter-dealer market as well as transactions entered into between a Swiss dealer and end-users. The end-users may be corporations using derivatives for their hedging, investment or treasury management purposes or investors using derivatives for hedging or investment purposes. OTC derivatives may be cleared or uncleared products. However, there is no Swiss clearing house providing clearing services for OTC derivatives.