Financial system

A 'Financial system' is a system that allows the exchange of funds between financial market participants such as lenders, investors, and borrowers. Financial systems operate at national and global levels.[1] Financial Institutions consist of complex, closely related services, markets, and institutions intended to provide an efficient and regular linkage between investors and depositors.[2]

In other words, financial systems can be known wherever there exists the exchange of a financial medium (money) while there is a reallocation of funds into needy areas (financial markets, business firms, banks) to utilize the potential of ideal money and place it in use to get benefits out of it. This whole mechanism is known as a financial system.

Money, credit, and finance are used as media of exchange in financial systems. They serve as a medium of known value for which goods and services can be exchanged as an alternative to bartering.[3] A modern financial system may include banks (public sector or private sector), financial markets, financial instruments, and financial services. Financial systems allow funds to be allocated, invested, or moved between economic sectors, and they enable individuals and companies to share the associated risks.[4]

The components of a financial system

Financial institutions

Financial institutions provide financial services for members and clients. It is also termed as financial intermediaries because they act as middlemen between the savers and borrowers. There are mainly four components of financial system:

  1. Financial markets
  2. Financial assets
  3. Financial institutions
  4. Financial services

1. Financial markets - the market place where buyers and sellers interact with each others and participate in he trading of bonds, shares and others assets are called financial markets.

2. Financial assets - the products which are traded in the financial markets are called financial assets. Based on different requirements and credit seekers, the securities in the market also differ from each others.

3. Financial institutions - financial institutions are act as a mediator between the investors and borrowers. The investor's savings are mobilized either directly or indirectly via the financial markets.

4. Financial services - services provided by assets management and liabilities management companies. They help to get the required funds and also make sure that they are efficiently invested. (eg. banking services, insurance services and investment services)

Banks

Banks are financial intermediaries that lend money to borrowers to generate revenue and accept deposits . They are typically regulated heavily, as they provide market stability and consumer protection. Banks include:

Non-bank financial institutions

Non-bank financial institutions facilitate financial services like investment, risk pooling, and market brokering. They generally do not have full banking licenses.[5] Non-bank financial institutions include:[6]

Financial markets

Financial markets are markets in which securities, commodities, and fungible items are traded at prices representing supply and demand. The term "market" typically means the institution of aggregate exchanges of possible buyers and sellers of such items.

Primary markets

The primary market (or initial market) generally refers to new issues of stocks, bonds, or other financial instruments. The primary market is divided in two segment, the money market and the capital market.

Secondary markets

The secondary market refers to transactions in financial instruments that were previously issued.

Financial instruments

Financial instruments are tradable financial assets of any kind. They include money, evidence of ownership interest in an entity, and contracts.[7]

Cash instruments

A cash instrument's value is determined directly by markets. They may include securities, loans, and deposits.

Derivative instruments

A derivative instrument is a contract that derives its value from one or more underlying entities (including an asset, index, or interest rate).[8]

Financial services

Financial services are offered by a large number of businesses that encompass the finance industry. These include credit unions, banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, stock brokerages, and investment funds.

See also

References
  1. O'Sullivan, Arthur; Sheffrin, Steven M. (2003). Economics: Principles in Action. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458: Pearson Prentice Hall. pp. 551. ISBN 0-13-063085-3.CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. Gurusamy, S. (2008). Financial Services and Systems 2nd edition, p. 3. Tata McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 0-07-015335-3
  3. "Back to Basics: What Is Money? - Finance & Development, September 2012". www.imf.org. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  4. Allen, Franklin; Gale, Douglas (2000-01-01). Comparing Financial Systems. MIT Press. ISBN 9780262011778.
  5. Carmichael, Jeffrey; Pomerleano, Michael (2002-03-05). Development and Regulation of Non-Bank Financial Institutions. The World Bank. doi:10.1596/0-8213-4839-6. hdl:10986/15236. ISBN 978-0-8213-4839-0.
  6. "Online Manual - BSA InfoBase - FFIEC". www.ffiec.gov. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  7. "Accounting for Financial Instruments". www.fasb.org. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  8. "Understanding Derivatives: Markets and Infrastructure". Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
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