The potential for risk reduction by using derivative contracts only
applies if the derivatives are used for hedging purpose. When speculators
are introduced into the mix, the risk could go up, potentially very
significantly if the volume is small. Take the cattle futures market example
we used in the previous section. If there is no end user in the
market, the speculators who enter into the forward position with the
cattle farmer would absorb the price risk. In this case, the risk has not
been eliminated by the futures contracts, it has simply been transferred
from one party to another party. Now, if we extend the example by
assuming that both the long and short position holder are speculators,
the risk is not eliminated as in the case of the true user and producer.
The risk of speculators on both sides of the contracts could increase the
risk of the market considerably since the initial capital requirement for
derivative contracts is much smaller.