Risk Takers: Uses and Abuses of Financial Derivatives, Fourth Edition

Risk Takers: Uses and Abuses of Financial Derivatives bridges the gap between theory and practice, making the often mysterious world of derivative finance both accessible and engaging. Through clear explanations and real-world stories, John Marthinsen reveals how derivatives can be wielded to create or destroy value. Written in an approachable, non-technical style, the book vividly brings financial events to life, offering valuable insights into their causes, consequences, and lasting implications for markets and regulators. This updated edition features in-depth analyses of the Archegos Capital Management collapse, driven by reckless use of total return swaps, and the Greensill Capital debacle, rooted in the misuse of supply chain finance through reverse and future factoring, and their pivotal roles in the downfall of Credit Suisse, once Switzerland’s second-largest bank. These and other real-life case studies enable even beginners to grasp the causes and effects of major derivative failures, while financial experts will find the analyses both rigorous and thought-provoking. Risk Takers stands out for its clarity, depth, and breadth, illuminating how derivative failures connect to broader financial and economic issues. It offers timely lessons on how unchecked financial innovation can escalate into systemic crises when risk management fails.