Financial Markets And Monetary Policy Flashcards
What are characteristics of money?
Durability – Money should withstand wear and tear over time.
Portability – It should be easy to carry and transfer.
Divisibility – It must be breakable into smaller units for transactions of different values.
Uniformity – Each unit must be the same to ensure consistent value.
Limited Supply – Its availability should be controlled to maintain value.
Acceptability – People must recognize and trust it as a medium of exchange.
What are functions of money?
Medium of Exchange – Facilitates transactions by eliminating the need for barter.
Unit of Account – Provides a standard measure for pricing goods and services.
Store of Value – Maintains its value over time, allowing for future use.
Standard of Deferred Payment – Enables borrowing and lending by serving as a reliable means of settling future debts.
What is money supply, narrow money and broad money?
What is difference between narrow money and broad money?
Money supply - the total amount of money circulating in an economy at a given time, including cash, bank deposits, and other liquid assets.
Narrow money - most liquid forms of money that can be used for immediate transaction.
Broad money - includes narrow money plus less liquid assets that can be converted into cash over time.
Narrow money is more liquid and can be used for immediate spending, whereas broad money includes assets that require time to convert into cash.
Broad money better reflects total purchasing power and influences long-term inflation trends, while narrow money is crucial for short-term transactions.
What is money market, capital market and foreign exchange market?
Money Market – A financial market for short-term borrowing and lending (usually less than a year). It deals with highly liquid and low-risk instruments like Treasury bills, commercial paper, and certificates of deposit.
Capital Market – A financial market for long-term securities (more than a year), including stocks and bonds. It provides funding for businesses and governments through the issuance of shares and debt instruments.
Foreign Exchange Market (Forex Market) – A global market where currencies are traded. It facilitates international trade, investments, and currency risk management through exchange rate determination.
What is difference between money market, capital market and foreign exchange market?
Time frame:
Short-term (<1 year).
Long-term (>1 year).
No fixed maturity, deals in currency exchange.
Instruments:
Treasury bills, commercial paper, certificates of deposit.
Stocks, bonds, debentures.
Currencies, derivatives (e.g., forex futures, options)
Purpose:
Provides liquidity and short-term funding.
Facilitates capital formation and investment.
Enables currency exchange for trade and investment.
Risk level:
Risk Level Low.
Moderate to high.
Moderate to high (depends on currency volatility)
Who is in the market:
Banks, corporations, governments.
Companies, investors, financial institutions.
Traders, investors, central banks, multinational.
Role of financial markets in the wider economy
Why financial markets is important?
Facilitating Capital Allocation – direct funds from savers (individuals, institutions) to borrowers (businesses, governments), allowing for investments in infrastructure, innovation, and expansion, which drives economic growth.
Risk Management – offer various financial instruments like derivatives and insurance products to help businesses and individuals manage and hedge against risks, such as currency fluctuations, interest rate changes, and commodity price volatility.
Liquidity – financial markets provide liquidity by selling and buying assets, ensuring that businesses and individuals can easily convert assets into cash or other assets when needed.
Economic Efficiency – financial markets contribute to the optimal distribution of resources across the economy by allocating capital efficiently, which fostering innovation and improving productivity.
What is debt and equity in financial market?
What is difference between debt and equity?
Debt refers to borrowed funds that a company must repay over time, typically with interest. It can be in the form of loans, bonds, or other financial instruments.
Equity represents ownership in a company. It is raised by issuing shares of stock, and investors who buy these shares become partial owners of the company.
What is the difference between debt and equity?
- Debt do not lead to divorce of ownership, while equity may does.
- Debt must be repaid with interest, whereas equity does not require repayment.
- Debt is generally less risky for investors (fixed returns), while equity is riskier (variable returns).
- Debt holders are paid before equity holders if a company goes bankrupt.
- Debt provides fixed interest payments, while equity offers potential capital gains and dividends.
What is coupon and maturity in relation to government bonds and how to calculate the yield on government bonds?
The coupon - fixe annual interest payment to bondholder based on the bond’s face value
Maturity - the date when the bond’s face value is repaid.
Yield = annual coupon repayment/ current market price x 100%
How does firms raise finance?
Issuing shares
Issuing corporate bonds
Borrowing from a bank
What are advantages and disadvantages of issuing shares (equity financing)?
A firm raises capital by selling ownership stakes in the form of shares (stock) to investors. This can be done through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) if the company is going public or through secondary offerings if it is already publicly traded.
No debt burden or interest repayment
Attracts long term investors who share in the company’s growth
Divorce of ownership and control
Dividends are not tax deductible (减税) unlike interest on debt
What are advantages and disadvantages of issuing corporate bonds (debt financing)?
A firm raises capital by issuing corporate bonds, which are debt securities. Investors who buy these bonds become creditors and are promised regular interest payments (coupons) and the return of the principal amount at maturity.
Retains ownership and control of the company.
Interest payments are tax-deductible, reducing the cost of debt.
Obligation (义务/责任) to repay principal and interest, even in difficult financial times.
High levels of debt can increase financial risk and affect credit ratings.
What are advantages and disadvantages of borrowing from a bank (debt financing)?
A firm raises capital by taking out a loan from a bank or financial institution. The loan agreement specifies the interest rate, repayment schedule, and collateral (if required).
Retains ownership and control of the company.
Interest payments are tax-deductible.
Some flexibility - Loan terms can be negotiated based on the firm’s needs.
Obligation to repay principal and interest, regardless of financial performance.
Collateral requirements (banks may require assets as security for the loan) may limit the firm’s ability to use assets for other purposes.
High levels of debt can increase financial risk.
Explain the inverse relationship between market interest rates and bond prices.
The inverse relationship between market interest rates and bond prices occurs because bonds pay fixed interest (coupon) payments. When market interest rates rise, newly issued bonds offer higher yields, making existing bonds less attractive. The prices of existing bonds fall to match the higher yields of new bonds. Conversely, when market interest rates fall, existing bonds with higher fixed coupon payments become more valuable, causing their prices to rise. This relationship is driven by the present value of future cash flows: as interest rates increase, the present value of a bond’s future payments decreases, lowering its price, while a decrease in interest rates raises the present value and increases the bond price.
What is difference between a commercial bank and investment bank?
A commercial bank primarily deals with individuals and businesses by providing services such as savings and checking accounts, loans, mortgages, and credit facilities. Their main goal is to facilitate everyday financial transactions and economic activities.
An investment bank focuses on large financial transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, issuing securities (stocks and bonds), and advising corporations on financial strategies. They do not typically deal with the general public but rather with corporations, governments, and institutional investors.
How does many banks are engaged in both commercial and investment banking activities can increase systemic risk?
Investment banking involves speculative trading, underwriting securities, and complex financial instruments. If a bank uses customer deposits (from commercial banking) to fund these activities, a crisis in investment banking can lead to significant losses, increasing the risk of bank runs.
Large banks that operate in both areas may take excessive risks, assuming they will be bailed out by the government if they fail. This can encourage reckless behavior, as seen in the 2008 financial crisis when institutions like Citigroup and Bank of America required government intervention.
If a major universal bank collapses due to bad investments, the financial shock can spread to other banks, given their exposure to the same markets and clients, creating a domino effect across the economy.
What other institutions operate in financial markets?
Insurance Companies – Provide risk management through policies (e.g., life, health, property insurance) and invest premiums in financial markets to generate returns.
Private Equity Firms – Invest in or acquire companies, restructure them, and aim to sell them for a profit, typically focusing on long-term growth strategies.
Hedge Funds – Invest pooled capital from wealthy individuals and institutions in high-risk, high-reward strategies such as derivatives, short-selling, and leverage.
Mutual Funds – Pool money from many investors to invest in diversified portfolios of stocks, bonds, or other assets, offering lower risk compared to direct investments.
Pension Funds – Manage retirement savings by investing in long-term assets like government bonds, corporate stocks, and real estate.
What assets are there in a commercial bank’s balance sheet?
The bank uses its funds, primarily through loans and investments.
Cash and Reserves – Cash on hand and deposits with the central bank to meet reserve requirements.
Loans and Advances – The largest asset category, including personal, corporate, and mortgage loans.
Investments – Holdings in government securities, corporate bonds, and other financial instruments.
Interbank Lending – Loans made to other banks in the short-term money market.
Fixed Assets – Physical assets like bank buildings, ATMs, and equipment.
Other Assets – Accrued interest, derivatives, and non-banking financial assets.
What liabilities and equity (capital) are there in a commercial bank’s balance sheet?
the bank finances its assets, mainly through deposits and borrowing.
Customer Deposits – The main liability, including demand (current) deposits, savings accounts, and fixed deposits.
Interbank Borrowing – Short-term borrowing from other banks.
Debt Issuances – Bonds issued by the bank to raise capital.
Central Bank Borrowings – Loans from the central bank during liquidity shortages.
Other Liabilities – Taxes payable, operational costs, and unsettled transactions.
Share Capital – Funds raised from issuing shares.
Retained Earnings – Profits reinvested in the bank.
Reserves and Surplus – Includes statutory reserves and provisions for future risks.
What are 3 main objectives of a commercial bank?
Liquidity – Ensuring the bank has enough cash or liquid assets to meet withdrawal demands and short-term obligations. This is crucial for maintaining customer confidence and avoiding bank runs.
Profitability – Maximizing returns for shareholders by earning interest on loans, charging fees, and investing in financial markets. Higher profits allow for expansion, dividends, and financial stability.
Security (Risk Management) – Maintaining financial stability by minimizing credit risk (loan defaults), market risk (investment losses), and operational risks (fraud, cyber threats). Security ensures long-term sustainability.
Customer Satisfaction – Providing reliable services like loans, deposits, and digital banking to attract and retain customers.
Regulatory Compliance – Following banking regulations, capital requirements, and risk management guidelines set by central banks and financial authorities.
What potential conflicts between these objectives?
Liquidity vs. Profitability – Keeping too much cash or liquid assets (to ensure liquidity) reduces the bank’s ability to lend and invest profitably. Conversely, lending too much can increase profits but may lead to liquidity shortages.
Profitability vs. Security – Higher profits often come from riskier investments and loans. However, excessive risk-taking can lead to financial instability (as seen in the 2008 financial crisis).
Liquidity vs. Customer Satisfaction – To maintain liquidity, banks may impose withdrawal limits or charge high fees, which can frustrate customers.
Regulatory Compliance vs. Profitability – Strict capital requirements and regulations (such as Basel III) force banks to hold more reserves, limiting their ability to maximize returns.
How banks create credit?
Safe banks - keep cash in the bank until depositor comes for it.
Risky banks - lend out more than has been deposited and hope depositors do not all come and withdraw at the same time.
Total credit = initial deposit/ reserve ratio
What are the main functions of a central bank?
Monetary Policy Implementation – Controls inflation, money supply, and interest rates to maintain economic stability.
Issuing Currency – Has the sole authority to print and regulate the national currency.
Lender of Last Resort – Provides emergency funding to banks facing liquidity crises to prevent financial system collapse.
Regulating and Supervising Banks – Ensures financial institutions operate safely and comply with regulations to maintain stability.
Managing Foreign Exchange and Reserves – Stabilizes the currency by intervening in foreign exchange markets and maintaining foreign reserves.
Maintaining Price Stability – Aims to keep inflation at a target level, ensuring purchasing power remains stable.
What are current objectives of monetary policy set by government and central banks?
Controlling Inflation – Keeping inflation at a target rate (e.g., 2% in the UK) to ensure price stability.
Supporting Economic Growth – Using interest rate adjustments to balance growth without overheating the economy.
Ensuring Full Employment – Promoting job creation by adjusting monetary conditions.
Stabilizing Financial Markets – Preventing financial crises by managing liquidity and regulating banks.
Managing Exchange Rates – Ensuring currency stability to promote trade and investment.