The Financial System:
The Big Questions
1. What is a financial instrument and
what is their role in the economy?
2. What are financial markets and how
do they work?
3. What are financial institutions and why
are they so important?
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Preliminaries:
Definitions
Types of Finance
– Indirect: Financial institution stands between
lender and borrower.
– Direct: Borrowers sell securities directly to
lenders in the financial markets
Assets & Liabilities
– Asset: Something of value that you own
– Liability: Something you owe.
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Financial Instruments:
Definition
A written legal obligation of one party
to transfer something of value,
usually money, to another party
at some future date,
under certain conditions.
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Financial Instruments:
Uses
– Means of Payment
Purchase goods and services
– Store of Value
Transfer purchasing power into the future
– Transfer of Risk
Transfer risk to from one person to another
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• Builders of big building transfer the risk
of a terrorist attack to someone else.
• Without terrorism insurance they
don’t build
• Following 9/11 they couldn’t get it
because no one knew how to price it
• The government stepped in
as it does for natural disasters
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Financial Instruments:
Characteristics
– Standardization
Overcome the costs of complexity
Makes them easier to understand, e.g. B/L
– Communicate Information
Summarize essential information about issuer
Eliminate expense of collecting information
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• Stock analysts conflict of interest
Accurate information to retail customers
versus
Pump up value of corporate clients’ stocks
• The problem was serious in late 1990s
– Analysts and firms were fined
– Law was changed to force separation
• Investors require accurate information
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Financial Instruments:
Classes
– Underlying
Used to transfer resources
Examples: stocks and bonds
– Derivative
Value derived from underlying instruments
Examples: Futures and options
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Financial Instruments:
What Makes Them Valuable?
1. Size of the payment:
Larger more valuable
2. Timing of payment:
Sooner more valuable
3. Likelihood payment is made
More likely more valuable
4. Conditions under with payment is made
When you need it most more valuable
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Financial Instruments:
Examples
Primarily Used as Stores of Value
– Bank Loans
– Bonds
– Home Mortgages
– Stocks
– Asset-backed securities
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Financial Instruments:
Examples
Primarily used to Transfer Risk
– Insurance Contracts
– Futures Contracts
– Options
3-11
– Future income is your most important asset.
– Disability income insurance is for when you
can’t work.
– Be sure you have enough.
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Financial Markets:
Definition
Places where financial instruments
are bought and sold.
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Financial Markets:
Roles
– Liquidity:
Ensure owners can buy and sell
financial instruments cheaply.
– Information:
Pool and communication information about
issuers of financial instruments.
– Risk sharing:
Provide individuals a place to buy and sell risk.
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Financial Market Structure:
Primary vs. Secondary
Primary:
Buy and Sell Newly Issued Securities
Secondary:
Trade Existing Securities
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Financial Market Structure:
Centralized, OTC, and ECNs
Centralized Exchange
Physical location where trading takes place
Over-the-Counter Market (OTC)
Networks of dealers connected electronically
Electronic Communications Network (ECN)
Electronic networks where buyers and sellers
interact directly.
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Financial Market Structure:
Debt, Equity, and Derivatives
Debt and Equity Markets:
Financial claims are bought and sold for
immediate cash payment
Derivative Markets:
Financial claims based on underlying
instruments are bought and sold for
payment at a future date
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Financial Markets:
Characteristics
Well functioning markets have
– Low transaction costs
– Communicate accurate information
– Protect Investors
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Financial Industry Structure: I
1. Depository Institutions:
Take deposits and make loans
2. Insurance Companies
Accept premiums, pay out based on events
3. Pension Funds
Invest contributions, provide payments
to retirees
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Financial Industry Structure: II
4. Security Firms
Proved access to financial markets
5. Finance Companies
Raise funds in financial markets, make loans
6. Government Sponsored Enterprises
Raise funds in financial markets, make loans,
provide guarantees.
3-20
• Get list of mortgage brokers
• Call around
• Compare quotes very carefully
• Get the cheapest one you can find, be
aware of ARM!
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