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BQLearning - F&O Series: The Long And Short Of Derivatives            

BQLearning explains the importance of leverage in a derivatives contract. 

Image courtesy: (BloombergQuint) 
Image courtesy: (BloombergQuint) 

BQLearning is a special show that seeks to demystify financial markets, economic theories, legal processes and political structures.

In this series we explain how the most commonly used derivatives - futures and options, work in equity markets, the advantages they offer and the risks associated with them.

In the derivatives market, to buy a contract is to ‘go long’ and to sell a contract is to ‘go short’.

But why use different terms when they mean the same thing? One word- leverage.

This video explains the difference in transactions in a derivatives and cash markets. In the derivatives market, it is not required to pay the entire sum upfront when doing a transaction. In the cash market, the entire sum has to be paid upfront.