The Use of Financial Derivatives in Emerging Market Economies: An Empirical Evidence from Bosnia and Herzegovina's Non-Financial Firms

Abstract

This paper discusses development of financial derivatives markets in emerging market economies, focusing on the use of financial derivatives in risk management purposes of non-financial firms in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For achieving the research goals authors collected data on the derivatives market structure and types of derivative instrument traded, focusing commercial banks, because of the authors’ prior knowledge of the derivatives market. Additionally, in order to assess the current state and development perspectives of derivatives usage by the non-financial firms, authors conducted a research on the random sample of non-financial firms, using data from the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the information from lists of derivatives users-clients provided by some banks of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The research shows that derivatives market in the country exists as an over-the-counter market, where banks play dominant role and offer different types of derivative instruments. Three types of derivatives are being offered: currency forwards, currency swaps, and interest rate forwards. The main reason for the poor offer is low demand, lack of non-financial firms’ knowledge about benefits of derivatives, and low number of business operations on the global markets by the non-financial firms.