Hedging through Currency Futures

 

 

Hedging is important for both Exporters and Importers to manage their foreign exchange risk.  Apart from hedging through banks through forwards and options where collateral have to be kept to enter into trade transactions and agreements like ISDA etc need to be signed , one can enter into futures transactions for 1-3 months (which are liquid) through currency exchanges promoted by NSE and MCX. The margins and rates are transparent and no exposures are required.

 

The major advantage of futures contracts is the existence of a liquid secondary market so they can be sold at any time on the open market and do not need to be held until maturity date.

 

Currency Futures are standardized instruments traded on exchanges that enable users to hedge price risk and/or take positions on how the underlying will move.USD/INR Futures are traded on NSE and MCX-SX and the volume has picked up tremendously over the last few months. It offers an excellent opportunity to resident individuals and corporate to hedge USD exposures or trade in the currency.

 

Futures market provides for hassle-free operations with minimum transaction cost and especially beneficial for SME’s and corporate which have issues obtaining limits with their bankers.

 

How is the forwards market different from the currency futures market?

 

 

OTC MARKET/FORWARDS

CURRENCY FUTURES

CONTRACTS

Customized

Standard

UNDERLYING EXPOSURE

Required

Not Required

PRICE TRANSPARENCY

Low – bank margins are often difficult to estimate

High, facilitated by price discovery on electronic screen

ACCESS

Subject to Credit Limits and security

Subject to cash Margin based on daily MTM value

DAILY MTM

Available only on request

Available on real-time basis

CURRENCY TRADING

Not permitted to non-bank entities

No restrictions

SETTLEMENT

Physical Delivery or Cancellation

Net settled in INR

 


Contact us for more information on futures market operations, or call Anurag Murarka : 9920095265.