Nifty Futures in stock market is the futures contract of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nifty Index. It provides investors and traders with a cost-effective way to invest in the Indian stock market. Nifty Futures can also be used as a hedging tool to protect investors’ portfolios from market fluctuations. Here’s how:
What is Hedging?
Hedging is the process of reducing the risk of financial investment. Investors can use various hedging techniques to protect their portfolios from market volatility. A popular hedging technique is to buy or sell futures contracts. Futures contracts are agreements between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price and date in the future. Check more on what is SIP Calculator.
Nifty Futures as a Hedging Tool
Nifty Futures can be used as a hedging tool to protect investors’ portfolios from market fluctuations. For example, let’s say an investor holds a long-term portfolio of stocks. If the stock market experiences a sharp decline, the value of the investor’s portfolio would also decline. The investor can use Nifty Futures in stock market to hedge against this risk. Check more on what is options trading.
To do this, the investor would sell Nifty Futures contracts. If the stock market experiences a decline, the value of the investor’s portfolio would decrease, but the value of the Nifty Futures contracts would increase. This increase in value would offset some of the losses in the investor’s portfolio.
Alternatively, an investor may use Nifty Futures to hedge against a potential market decline in the future. For example, if an investor believes that the stock market is going to experience a decline in the next few months, they can buy Nifty Futures contracts to hedge against this risk. If the market decline occurs, the value of the Nifty Futures contracts will increase, offsetting some of the losses in the investor’s portfolio. Check more on what is SIP Calculator.
Benefits of using Nifty Futures as a Hedging Tool
One of the main benefits of using Nifty Futures as a hedging tool is its flexibility. Nifty Futures contracts can be traded on a variety of timeframes, from intraday to monthly contracts. This flexibility allows investors to customize their hedging strategies to their specific needs.
Another benefit of using Nifty Futures as a hedging tool is its cost-effectiveness. Hedging with futures contracts is often more cost-effective than other hedging techniques such as options or swaps. Futures contracts do not require an upfront premium, unlike options contracts. Additionally, futures contracts may have lower transaction costs compared to options or swaps.
Moreover, as Nifty Futures in the stock market are traded on the NSE, they are highly liquid and have a tight bid-ask spread. This means that investors can enter and exit positions quickly and at a fair price, reducing the risk of slippage and ensuring efficient hedging. Check more on what is options trading?
Finally, using Nifty Futures in stock market as a hedging tool can also have tax benefits. In India, gains from futures and options trading are treated as business income and taxed at a lower rate than gains from investments held for more than one year.
