Derivatives are financial instruments used to hedge against risks associated with investments. They are used to protect against losses from market fluctuations and to manage the risk associated with investments. Derivatives can be used for hedging, speculation, and arbitrage.

Hedging is a strategy used to reduce the risk of losses from market fluctuations. It is done by taking a position in a derivative that offsets the risk associated with an investment. For example, if an investor owns a stock, they can buy a put option which gives them the right to sell the stock at a certain price, even if the stock price falls. This protects the investor from any losses that may occur due to a decline in the stock price.

Speculation is the process of making investments based on predictions of future market movements. Speculators use derivatives to take advantage of price movements in the underlying asset. For example, if an investor believes that the price of a stock will go up, they can buy a call option, which gives them the right to buy the stock at a certain price, even if the stock price rises.

Arbitrage is the process of taking advantage of price discrepancies between different markets. Arbitrageurs use derivatives to take advantage of price differences in different markets. For example, if a stock is trading for $50 in one market and $55 in another market, an arbitrageur can buy the stock in the cheaper market and sell it in the more expensive market, making a profit.

Derivatives can also be used to manage the risk associated with investments. For example, an investor can buy a futures contract to protect against losses due to a decline in the price of an asset. The investor can also buy a put option to protect against losses due to an increase in the price of an asset.

In conclusion, derivatives can be used as a hedging tool to reduce the risk of losses from market fluctuations. They can also be used for speculation and arbitrage. Finally, derivatives can be used to manage the risk associated with investments.