Hedging using Derivatives: A Study of Non-Financial Firms in the UK

Using data from annual reports for the fiscal year ending 2005, this paper presents evidence on the use of derivatives by non-financial firms in the United Kingdom. We find that non-financial firms generally only use derivatives for hedging purposes and that there is very little evidence of non-fina...

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Main Author: Smith, Christopher
Format: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Language:English
Published: 2006
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/20766/
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author Smith, Christopher
author_facet Smith, Christopher
author_sort Smith, Christopher
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Using data from annual reports for the fiscal year ending 2005, this paper presents evidence on the use of derivatives by non-financial firms in the United Kingdom. We find that non-financial firms generally only use derivatives for hedging purposes and that there is very little evidence of non-financial firms using derivatives for speculative purposes. Further, we find that derivative users and non-users differ in terms of a number of characteristics including firm size, capital structure and availability of internal funds. We also find evidence supporting the theory that information and transaction costs have a significant influence on the decision to use derivatives. Finally, other evidence suggests that one of the main motives for using derivatives is to reduce the probability and expected cost of financial distress.
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spelling nottingham-207662018-02-28T01:44:40Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/20766/ Hedging using Derivatives: A Study of Non-Financial Firms in the UK Smith, Christopher Using data from annual reports for the fiscal year ending 2005, this paper presents evidence on the use of derivatives by non-financial firms in the United Kingdom. We find that non-financial firms generally only use derivatives for hedging purposes and that there is very little evidence of non-financial firms using derivatives for speculative purposes. Further, we find that derivative users and non-users differ in terms of a number of characteristics including firm size, capital structure and availability of internal funds. We also find evidence supporting the theory that information and transaction costs have a significant influence on the decision to use derivatives. Finally, other evidence suggests that one of the main motives for using derivatives is to reduce the probability and expected cost of financial distress. 2006 Dissertation (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/20766/1/MA06lixcs11.pdf Smith, Christopher (2006) Hedging using Derivatives: A Study of Non-Financial Firms in the UK. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished) Derivatives Risk Management Hedging United Kingdom Non-financial
spellingShingle Derivatives
Risk Management
Hedging
United Kingdom
Non-financial
Smith, Christopher
Hedging using Derivatives: A Study of Non-Financial Firms in the UK
title Hedging using Derivatives: A Study of Non-Financial Firms in the UK
title_full Hedging using Derivatives: A Study of Non-Financial Firms in the UK
title_fullStr Hedging using Derivatives: A Study of Non-Financial Firms in the UK
title_full_unstemmed Hedging using Derivatives: A Study of Non-Financial Firms in the UK
title_short Hedging using Derivatives: A Study of Non-Financial Firms in the UK
title_sort hedging using derivatives: a study of non-financial firms in the uk
topic Derivatives
Risk Management
Hedging
United Kingdom
Non-financial
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/20766/