Chapter 1 Flashcards
What does financial services sector do?
Provides link between organisations needing capital to those with capital available for investment
What is Global Financial Sectors Index
Produced by CDI (China Development Institute) to evaluate future competitiveness of major financial centres
What does Global Financial Centres Index consider
Business environment, human capital, infrastructure, financial sector development, reputation
What are the two areas of financial services
Wholesale and retail
What markets make up financial services
Equity, bond, foreign exchange, derivatives and insurance markets
What activities make up wholesale sector
Fund management, investment banking and custodian banking
What makes up the retail sector?
Retail banking, insurance, pensions, investment services, financial planning and advice
Who provides data from global stock exchanges
World Federation of Exchanges (WFE)
What are the largest stock exchanges in order?
NYSE, Nasdaq, Shanghai stock exchange (SSE), Euronext, LSE
What are MTFs and what do they do?
Multilateral Trading Facilities are systems that bring together parties interested in buying/selling financial instruments. Using matching engines or crossing networks
What is the purpose of bond markets
Allow governments/companies to raise loans or debt finance directly from investors and then facilitate secondary trading of the debt securities created
The type of bonds
Sovereign, supranational, agency, corporate bonds
What does the FX market do
Fx markets are global and facilitate trading of currencies and determine exchange rates (determined by supply and demand)
What is the derivative market
Facilitates trade of a range of complex products based on underlying instruments (currencies, indices, interest rates, equities, commodities, credit risk)
What is largest derivative exchange?
Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME)
What does insurance market do?
Specialise in management of risk.
How do insurance companies make money and what is reinsurance?
Hope that the premiums from policies exceed claims paid out. Also invest premiums. Reinsurance is insurance for insurers and allows them to hedge risk on single policies or on group of policies.
Largest reinsurers
Munich RE, Swiss RE, Hannover RE, Berkshire Hathaway, Lloyds of London
Largest Insurers
China Life, Allianz, AXA
What do Retail Banks Do?
Provide Services such as deposits, lending, payment services, investments, pensions, insurance
What are savings institutions?
Similar to banks but specialise in savings products. Also called building societies