Hedge

(eng. hedge - fence) - 1) a form of price or profit insurance when making futures transactions; the sale of a futures contract on a commodity or stock exchange that provides insurance against future changes in market prices for a given commodity. Insurance is achieved by concluding additional futures contracts along with the main trade agreement. Long X. consists in buying a futures contract to protect against a possible price increase. Short X consists of selling a futures contract to protect against a possible price decline. Net X. is a forward purchase transaction concluded with the aim of "locking" the loan interest and thus insuring against a possible drop in the loan interest rate; 2) insurance against price risks.