chapter 1 Flashcards
The Capital Market
what is a vital function served by financial market
the transfer of wealth from those who have extra wealth to those who need capital
what’s the purpose of financial markets
to drive economic growth by transforming savings into investments
what are the 3 components of this wealth transfer process?
- financial instruments
2, financial markets - financial intermediaries
define (investment) capital
capital incorporates the savings of individuals, corporations, governments, and other entities - it’s scarce + valuable, it’s only economically significant when it’s properly utilized
how can capital be utilized?
- direct investment
- indirect investment
define direct investment
investments in real assets that generate wealth directly (lang, buildings, equipment, human capital)
define indirect investment
investments in financial assets (stocks, bonds) which allows issuers of these securities to invest funds directly in wealth generating assets
what are some characteristics of capital
capital = mobile, scarce + sensitive
efficient allocation promotes economic growth, while inefficient allocation can constrain economic growth - bc of this, capital is selective + tends to flow toward attractive economic environments
what variables make capital flow into and out of countries
- the political environment
- economic trends
- fiscal policy
- monetary policy
- investment opportunities + risk-return opportunities
- labour force characteristics
why is the availability of capital important to a nation?
capital it necessary to promote economic output, improve productivity, encourage innovations, and improve the competitive position of a nation in general
define retail in the context of investors
investors who invest for their own account
define institutional in the context of investors
organizations that buy + sell securities on behalf of the underlying entity –> set up to serve its plan members
who represents a significant source of investment capital in Canada?
individual investors
corporation tend to retain a large portion of their earning to finance operations + growth and are not important source of capital
why is foreign investment important in canada?
necessary to fund deficits + growth
benefits vs cons of foreign investment
pros: helps to expand our international trading relationship
cons: may take long-term cash flows out of the country
what are the 2 types of international bond issues?
- foreign bonds: which are offered + denominated in the currency of a country other than the borrower
- eurobonds: which may be denominated in 1 or several currencies and are sold in countries other than the currency in which they are denominated
who are the users of capital
individuals, businesses, government