1) Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is dependent on an underlying asset such as stocks, bonds, currencies or commodities. Common derivatives include futures, forwards, swaps and options.
2) Derivatives are traded both over-the-counter between institutions and on organized exchanges. The total notional value of the over-the-counter market is many times larger than the exchange market.
3) Derivatives are used for hedging risks, speculation, arbitrage and adjusting portfolio exposures without selling existing positions. Traders include hedgers who offset price risks, speculators who take views on markets, and arbitrageurs who exploit pricing inefficiencies.