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Are firms hedging or speculating? The relationship between financial derivatives and firm risk

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  • Hoa Nguyen
  • Robert Faff

Abstract

The focus of this article is an investigation of the relationship between the use of financial derivatives and firm risk using a sample of Australian firms. Our results suggest that this relationship is nonlinear in nature. Specifically, the use of financial derivatives is associated with a risk reduction for moderate derivative users. Derivative usage among extensive derivative users, on the other hand, appears to lead to an increase in firm risk. Nevertheless, compared to firms that do not make use of derivatives, there is no evidence that extensive derivative users are exposed to a risk level in excess of that of nonderivative users. The results are, therefore, indicative of a hedging motive behind the use of financial derivatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Hoa Nguyen & Robert Faff, 2010. "Are firms hedging or speculating? The relationship between financial derivatives and firm risk," Applied Financial Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(10), pages 827-843.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:apfiec:v:20:y:2010:i:10:p:827-843
    DOI: 10.1080/09603101003636204
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    Cited by:

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    3. Franziska Wolf & Terry Boulter & Sukanto Bhattacharya, 2017. "Derivative Practices in Australian and Canadian Industries," Review of Pacific Basin Financial Markets and Policies (RPBFMP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(04), pages 1-39, December.
    4. Bartram, Söhnke M., 2019. "Corporate hedging and speculation with derivatives," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 9-34.
    5. Markus Hang & Jerome Geyer‐Klingeberg & Andreas W. Rathgeber & Stefan Stöckl, 2021. "Rather complements than substitutes: Firm value effects of capital structure and financial hedging decisions," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(4), pages 4895-4917, October.
    6. Zamzamir, Zaminor & Haron, Razali & Baharul Ulum, Zatul Karamah Ahmad & Abdullah Othman, Anwar Hasan, 2021. "Non-linear relationship between foreign currency derivatives and firm value: evidence on Sharī‘ah compliant firms," Islamic Economic Studies, The Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI), vol. 28, pages 156-173.
    7. Ahtisham Imtiaz & Aqueel Imtiaz Wahga & Syed Fakher Abbas Zaidi & Safyan Majid, 2023. "Corporate Hedging and Stock Market Dynamics: Evidence from PSX," Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 12(3), pages 580-586.
    8. Benedetta Bianchi & Giovanna Bua, 2020. "Foreign exchange derivatives and currency mismatch in Irish investment funds," IFC Bulletins chapters, in: Bank for International Settlements (ed.), Bridging measurement challenges and analytical needs of external statistics: evolution or revolution?, volume 52, Bank for International Settlements.
    9. Yantao Wen & Yuanfei Kang & Yafeng Qin & Jeffrey C. Kennedy, 2021. "Use of Derivative and Firm Performance: Evidence from the Chinese Shenzhen Stock Exchange," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-22, February.

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