Consumption vs Investment Assets Investment assets are assets held by significant numbers of people purely for investment purposes (Examples: gold, silver) Consumption assets are assets held primarily for consumption(Examples: copper, oil)
The nature of derivatives a derivative is an instrument whose value depends on the values of other more basic underlying variables Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives, 5th edition C 2002 by John C. Hull
Nature of Swaps A swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows at specified future times according to certain specified rules Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives, 5th edition 2002 by John C. Hull