This book is designed for beginners who possess no previous knowledge or familiarity with derivatives. Written in an easy-to-read style, it guides readers through the challenging and complex world of forwards, futures, options, and swaps. The emphasis on Asian markets and contracts enables easier understanding. Financial derivative contracts from Malaysia and select contracts from Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong derivative markets are covered. For each derivative contract, their three common applications hedging, arbitrage, and speculating are shown with fully worked out examples. Extensive use of illustrations, graphics, and vignettes provide for easy comprehension of the underlying logic of derivatives.

Contents:
Derivatives: Introduction and OverviewDerivative Markets and TradingForward and Futures Markets: Pricing and AnalysisStock Index Futures Contracts: Analysis and ApplicationsInterest Rate Futures Contracts and Currency Futures ContractsIntroduction to OptionsEquity, Equity Index, and Currency OptionsOption Strategies and PayoffsOption PricingReplication, Synthetics, and ArbitrageOptions in Corporate Finance and Real OptionsInterest Rate Swaps, Credit, and Other DerivativesDerivative Instruments and Islamic Finance
Readership: University students studying finance and/or financial derivatives and practitioners seeking an in-depth understanding of financial derivatives.

Key Features: The book has already been well accepted — now in its 4th edition Written in an easy manner explaining the intuition/logic rather than the heavy reliance on Mathematics/Calculus as is the case with most books in the area Extensive use of illustrations to show the application of derivatives in hedging, arbitrage, and speculative trades Material adapted for local/developing market ecosystem Includes a chapter on Islamic derivatives, i.e., shariah compliant derivatives. This is a unique feature of this book