Function of Financial Markets
Channel funds from economic agents that have saved surplus funds to those that have a shortage of funds
Promote economic efficiency by producing an efficient allocation of capital
Directly improve the well-being of consumers by allowing them to time purchases better (e.g., spend now against future income)
Structure of Financial Markets
Debt and Equity Markets
Primary and Secondary Markets
Investment Banks underwrite securities in primary markets
Brokers and dealers work in secondary markets
Exchanges and Over-the-Counter (OTC) Markets
Money and Capital Markets
Money markets deal in short-term debt instruments
Capital markets deal in longer-term debt and equity instruments
Internationalization of Financial Markets
Foreign Bonds—sold in a foreign country and denominated in that country’s currency
Eurobond—bond denominated in a currency other than that of the country in which it is sold
Eurocurrencies—foreign currencies deposited in banks outside the home country
Eurodollars—U.S. dollars deposited in foreign banks outside the U.S. or in foreign branches of U.S. banks
World Stock Markets
Function of Financial Intermediaries: Indirect Finance
Lower transaction costs
Economies of scale
Liquidity services
Reduce Risk
Risk Sharing (Asset Transformation)
Diversification
Address Asymmetric Information problems
Adverse Selection (before the transaction)—more likely to select risky borrower
Moral Hazard (after the transaction)—less likely borrower will repay loan
Regulation of the Financial System
To increase the information available to investors:
Reduce adverse selection and moral hazard problems
Reduce insider trading
To ensure the soundness of financial intermediaries:
Restrictions on entry
Disclosure
Restrictions on Assets and Activities
Deposit Insurance
Limits on Competition
Restrictions on Interest Rates
