Chapter #1By; Dr. Kamrul Hasan

Financial Markets are the markets in which funds are transferred from people who have an excess of available funds to people who have a shortageFinancial Markets are important in channeling funds from people who do not have a productive use for them to those who do

DEBT MARKETSTOCK MARKETFORIEGN EXCHANGE MARKETDERIVATIVE MARKET

Debt Markets, also often referred to generally as the Bond Markets. are especially important to economic activity because they enable corporations/ governments to borrow to finance their activitiesBond Markets are the markets where interest rates are determinedA bond is a debt security that promises to make payments for a specified period of timeA security ( also called a financial instrument ) is a claim on the issuer's future income or assets

The interest rate is the cost of borrowing or the price paid for the rental of funds which is usually expressed as a percentageInterest Rates are important on a number of levelsOn a personal level, high interest rates could deter you from buying a house or a car because the cost of financing it would be highConversely, high interest rates could encourage you to save because you can earn more interest income by putting aside some of your earnings as savings

The Stock Markets are the markets in which claims on the assets and earnings of corporations ( share of stock ) are tradedA common stock ( typically just called a stock) is a security that represents a share of ownership in a corporationIt is a claim on the earnings and assets of the corporationIssuing stock and selling it to the public is a way for corporations to raise funds to finance their activities

For funds to be transferred from one country to another, they have to be converted from the currency in the country of origin ( say $ ) into the currency of the country they are going to ( say Takas)The foreign exchange market is where this conversion takes place.It is where the foreign exchange rate, the price of one country's currency in terms of another, is determined

Financial markets, such as bond and stock markets, are crucial in our economy.These markets channel funds from savers to investors, thereby promoting economic efficiency.Market activity affects personal wealth, the behavior of business firms, and economy as a whole.

Well functioning financial markets, such as the bond market, stock market, and foreign exchange market, are key factors in producing high economic growth.

Financial Institutions are the institutions that make financial markets work.Financial Institutions are the intermediaries, that take funds from the people who save and lend it to people who have productive investment opportunities.

If you wanted to make a loan to Square Pharmaceuticals or Bata Shoes or any other company , for example, you would not go directly to the Chairman of the company and offer a loan. Instead you would lend it to such companies indirectly through financial intermediaries institutions such as commercial banks, insurance companies, leasing companies etc

Central Bank, the government agency responsible for conducting the monetary policy on a country, which in Bangladesh is the Bangladesh Bank.Commercial Banks, are the financial institutions, that accept deposits and make loansOther financial institutions include Leasing Companies, Insurance Companies, etc

We will also spend considerable time discussing financial institutions. These institutions play a crucial role in improving the efficiency of the economy. We will look at:Central Banks and the Conduct of Monetary PolicyStructure of the Financial SystemHelps get funds from savers to investors

Banks and Other Financial InstitutionsIncludes the role of insurance companies, mutual funds, pension funds, etc.Financial InnovationFocusing on the improvements in technology and its impact on how financial products are deliveredManaging Risk in Financial InstitutionsFocusing on risk management in the financial institution.

4