Equity derivative
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Equity Derivatives Anatomy™
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An equity derivative is a derivative contract that references the performance of equities and equity indices. The technical term for an equity derivative referencing more than one share or Index is a Basket.
Equity derivatives are most usually documented under the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions, and the place you should immediately visit is the Equity Derivatives Anatomy.
High delta equity derivatives that replicate the economic effect of cash equities trading are often called “synthetic equity swaps” or “synthetic prime brokerage”.
The starting assumption is that the underlying share already exists in the market. So there's not a lot of chat about initial publis offerings, subscription agreements and all that sort of thing. So the sorts of rights an initial subscriber might have (the Hedging Party) won’t automatically translate through to the holder of a synthetic exposure under an equity derivative.
Types of equity derivative
- Equity swap contracts, which are generally total return swaps and related index swap contracts
- Option contracts
- Forward contracts
- Synthetic prime brokerage: delta-one exposure; a swap version of pure share brokerage.
Features
Equity derivatives generally reference the performance of the underlier over the life of the transaction, most commonly represented as a fraction whereby Settlement Price (also known as "Final Price") is divided by "Strike Price" (also known as “Initial Price”) to yield a percentage - anything greater than 100% implies a positive return over the life of the transaction; a figure of less than 100% implies a negative return.
- Strike Price: generally the price of the underlier at the inception of the trade
- Settlement Price: generally the price of the underlier at the scheduled maturity of the trade
- Barriers: above or below which the trade may knock in, knock out, or the settlement formula may adjust;
- Valuation: on the Settlement Date, the settlement Price will be determined by reference to one or more Valuation dates, (if more than one Averaging may be applied)
Market and Hedging disruption
- Market Disruption: Contingency plans need to be made for what to do where it is not possible to make a valuation on any day on which one might be required (these may occur periodically through the transaction, and may be daily).
- Hedging Disruption: where the market is finctioning, but for some reason there are impediments to efficiently or legally hedging an exposure under an equity derivative.