Derivatives are an integral part of the global financial
landscape, with transaction volumes growing dramatically over the
years. These powerful, capital-efficient financial instruments,
whose value is derived from the value of underlying assets such as
stocks, bonds, commodities, currencies, interest rates and market
indexes, play a crucial role in risk management and speculative
opportunities worldwide.
The derivatives industry has undergone significant changes,
shaped by global events like the 2008 financial crisis, which
prompted a wave of regulatory reforms aimed at enhancing market
stability and transparency. Today, derivatives are traded on
regulated exchanges and via the over-the-counter (OTC) markets in
major financial centers around the world, including New York,
London, Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong.
