Strength when markets move
Protect your business from market volatility with smart, efficient, and accessible hedging solutions designed to keep your cash flows stable and your margins secure.
Our financial instruments
Small and medium-sized companies can use futures and options to lock in prices, protect margins, and reduce the uncertainty of fluctuating currencies or commodities.
For companies with more complex exposures or specific treasury needs, we offer customised OTC strategies executed offline with our FX Trading specialists.
Online derivatives
FX Futures Hedge
If your company expects to receive USD at a future date but reports in CHF, currency fluctuations could impact your revenue. Selling USD futures today locks in the exchange rate and protects your cash flow. Since the contract is financially settled, any gain offsets negative FX moves in the spot market.
Commodity Futures Hedge
If your business relies on specific commodities for production, rising prices could squeeze your margins. By buying futures on those commodities, you lock in today’s price for future delivery. Any appreciation in the futures contract helps offset higher costs in the physical market.
Options Hedge
Commodity options provide protection while preserving upside potential. They are cash-settled, making them simple and operationally efficient for SMEs.
For example, a bakery importing wheat can buy a call option on wheat.
- If prices rise → the option gains value and offsets higher wheat costs
- If prices fall → you purchase wheat at cheaper market prices
Transparent, standardised contracts traded on major exchanges, with fast access to essential risk-management tools. Futures are financially settled, with no physical delivery, making the process simple and efficient.
This chart is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent actual past or future performance.
Offline derivatives
Hedge Future Revenues
A forward contract allows your company to lock in today’s Forex rate for a payment or revenue occurring in the future. This means predictable cash flows, protected profit margins and no impact from sudden FX swings for your business.
For example, a Swiss SME expecting EUR 500,000 in six months can secure today’s EUR/CHF rate, safeguarding its margins regardless of market volatility.
Earn on Cash Surplus
This strategy is ideal for companies with temporary excess liquidity or SMEs looking to generate higher short-term returns without long-term commitments. In such cases, companies can take advantage of interest rate differentials between currencies through a simple carry trade: sell a currency with low interest rates, buy one with higher rates, and earn the spread over the duration of the trade.
For example, if your company holds CHF but does not need all of its liquidity, you can enter a short-term CHF→USD carry trade to benefit from higher USD interest rates.
Fully customised solutions tailored to your needs, with flexible dates, sizes, and structures. You also benefit from direct support from our Forex traders, ensuring expert guidance throughout the hedging process.
This chart is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent actual past or future performance.
Compare our instruments
| Product / Strategy | Ideal time span | Minimum ideal amount | What it’s best for | Key advantages | Typical company profile | Settlement method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange-Traded Futures | 1–12 months | CHF 10k–50k+ | Hedging FX, commodities, rates | High liquidity, transparent pricing, no counterparty risk | SMEs with recurring FX/commodity flows needing fast execution | Financial |
| Exchange-Traded Options | 1–12 months | CHF 5k–20k+ (premium) | Flexible hedging with upside | Limited downside, custom strikes, preserves upside | Companies with uncertain volumes or preferring partial protection | Commodities → Cash | FX → Cash or delivery |
| FX Forwards (OTC) | 1–18 months | CHF 5m+ notional | Locking FX rates for future flows | Predictable cash flows, fully tailored terms | SMEs with stable future cash flows | Physical settlement |
| FX swaps (carry trades) | 1–6 months | CHF 5m+ notional | Earning yield on excess cash | Boosts treasury returns, flexible maturities | Companies with solid liquidity buffers and low short-term needs | Physical settlement |
Get in touch
We are eager to know how we can further customise our solutions to your needs. Choose your Swissquote office and reach out now!