Why might an investor use hedging strategies?

Investors utilize hedging strategies primarily to mitigate potential losses during market downturns. Hedging involves taking positions in financial instruments that will gain value or appreciate when the value of other investments declines. This strategy is designed to protect the portfolio from volatility and adverse market conditions, thus preserving capital and reducing the overall risk exposure. By implementing hedging strategies, investors can stabilize their returns and safeguard their investments against unforeseen negative market movements.

While enhancing returns, diversifying investments, and eliminating risks are valuable concepts in investment strategy, hedging specifically focuses on reducing downside risk rather than boosting returns or completely eliminating risks, which is generally not feasible. Therefore, the emphasis on loss mitigation accurately reflects the primary goal of employing hedging strategies.