The Effect of Financial Derivatives on the Financial Performance of Firms in the Financial Sector in Ghana

Abstract

This paper provides evidence on the impact of financial derivatives on the performance of firms in the financial sector in Ghana. Secondary data on financial derivatives, controlled business risks and business performance in terms of return on investment are used for the period 2011-2015. Data are sourced from 23 randomly selected financial firms in Accra, Ghana. A quantitative research technique is used to test four hypotheses. A strong positive correlation between financial derivatives and controlled business risks is found, r (92) = .703, p < .05. Also, there is a strong positive correlation between financial derivatives and business performance in terms of ROI, r (92) = .961, p = .000. This means that the financial performance of businesses improves largely when they trade in financial derivatives. Financial derivatives significantly predict business performance at 5% significance level (t = 32.87, p = .000), where they account for 92.3% of the variation in business performance. Financial firms would, therefore, have to give priority to financial derivatives and their management to boost financial growth.

Keywords: Financial derivatives, business risks, financial firms, financial performance