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Applications and portfolio theory in the South African agricultural derivatives market

Dissertation (MSc (Agricultural Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2008.

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Other Authors: Kirsten, Johann F.
Format: Thesis
Published: University of Pretoria 2013
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Kirsten, Johann F.
author_browse Kirsten, Johann F.
author_facet Kirsten, Johann F.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © University of Pretoria 2005 G551
description Dissertation (MSc (Agricultural Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2008.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/24682
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:39:49.604Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2013
publishDateRange 2013
publishDateSort 2013
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/24682 Applications and portfolio theory in the South African agricultural derivatives market Kirsten, Johann F. deons@grainfutures.co.za Scheepers, Deon Derivatives market Financial market Fluctuations UCTD Dissertation (MSc (Agricultural Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2008. South African agriculture experienced rapid deregulation during the 1990s as the one channel marketing boards were dismantled. For the grains industry this meant the rapid development of a derivatives market (SAFEX). Derivative markets are surely the most intriguing and complex financial markets with the most misunderstood and riskiest instruments of all financial markets. Their complexity also caused its fair share of problems within the South African scenario with the inception of SAFEX in 1996/97. Not only is this type of market complex but it also creates huge fluctuations in the portfolio value of a derivatives linked portfolio. It is precisely this type of fluctuations and exposure that can be controlled and managed to the preferred level of risk by the correct and responsible application of these instruments. The successful application of these instruments depends greatly on the fact that the underlying market should be an efficient market which will then in turn allow for cost effective pricing of these instruments and ultimately lead to successful product structuring. The South African agricultural derivatives market was tested for efficiency by using a co-integration analysis which proved market efficiency. Once market efficiency was established it allowed for the structuring of marketing portfolios which ultimately resulted in a rule of thumb marketing strategy for maize producers. The strategy required the maize producer to fix a price during planting period for delivery in July the following year. In order for the producer to benefit from any potential upside during the season between price fixing and delivery the producer should buy a call option with an expiry date of the month of March following planting. This will save him at least four months worth of time value on the option premium. This study also acknowledged the fact that the derivatives market in South Africa is still in its fledgling phase and realises the vast potential for risk reduction through radical innovation by creating and mixing the basic positions of derivatives. This study illustrates by way of examples a few approaches in structured products. In an attempt to achieve successful product development the study applied portfolio theory as a means to quantify risk by using mean return and portfolio variance parameters. It addressed the more obvious price risk situation which is faced by all grain producers by developing a rule of thumb marketing strategy for farmers. The more complex situation of emerging agriculture was also considered where the objective was to enable a small scale producer to benefit from the risk reduction potential of these instruments. At the same time it would also allow them to access production credit without a traditional balance sheet while allowing the financier to be ring fenced from the risk of price fluctuation on the clients profit profile. A more adventures approach was followed for the dairy industry by creating a proxy price for milk based on the maize price of SAFEX in an attempt to encourage an increase in the volatility of the milk price which could then be managed very successfully through the use of derivatives which will then ultimately enable cash flow management. Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development unrestricted 2013-09-06T18:09:32Z 2008-07-14 2013-09-06T18:09:32Z 2006-04-24 2008-07-14 2008-05-15 Dissertation a 2005 G551 AG http://hdl.handle.net/2263/24682 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-05152008-142000/ © University of Pretoria 2005 G551 application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Derivatives market
Financial market
Fluctuations
UCTD
Applications and portfolio theory in the South African agricultural derivatives market
title Applications and portfolio theory in the South African agricultural derivatives market
title_full Applications and portfolio theory in the South African agricultural derivatives market
title_fullStr Applications and portfolio theory in the South African agricultural derivatives market
title_full_unstemmed Applications and portfolio theory in the South African agricultural derivatives market
title_short Applications and portfolio theory in the South African agricultural derivatives market
title_sort applications and portfolio theory in the south african agricultural derivatives market
topic Derivatives market
Financial market
Fluctuations
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/24682
http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-05152008-142000/