Financial Assets, Money, Financial Transactions, and Financial Institution

Capital Market

Introduction: The Role of Financial Assets

The financial system is the mechanism through which loanable funds reach borrowers. Through the operation of the financial markets, money is exchange for financial claims in the form of stocks, bonds and other securities. Through the exchange of money for financial claims, the economys capacity to produce goods and services is increased.

The Creation of Financial Assets

What is a financial asset?

It is a claim against the income or wealth of a business firm, household, or unit of government, represented usually by a certificate, receipt, computer record file, or other legal document and usually created by or related to the lending of money.

Examples include stocks, bonds, insurance policies, future contracts, and deposits held in a bank.

Characteristics of Financial Assets

Financial assets do not provide a continuing stream of services to their owners as a home, an automobile, or a washing machine would do. These assets are sought after because they promise future return to their owners and serve as a store of value (purchasing power). Their value rests on faith that their issue will honor his or her contractual promise to pay.

Characteristics of Financial Assets

They cannot be depreciated because they do not wear out like physical goods. Their physical condition or form usually is not relevant in determining their market value (price).

Example: stock certificate is not more or less valuable, because of the size or quality of paper it may be printed.

Characteristics of Financial Assets

Finally, financial assets are fungible they can be easily changed in form and substituted for other assets. Thus a bond or share of stock often can be quickly converted into any other asset the holder desires.

Different Kinds of Financial Assets

Money Equities Debt securities derivatives

Different Kinds of Financial Assets

Any financial asset that is generally accepted in payment for purchases of goods and services is money.

Thus, checking account and currency are financial assets serving as payment media and therefore, are forms of money.

Different Kinds of Financial Assets

Equities (more commonly known as stock) represent ownership shares in a business firm and, as such, are claims against the firms profits and against proceeds from the sale of its assets.

Further subdivide equities into: Common stock entitles it holders to vote for the members of the firm board of director Preferred stock-normally carries no voting privileges but does not entitle its holder to a fixed share of the firms net earnings ahead of its common stockholders.

Different Kinds of Financial Assets

Debt securities include such familiar instruments as bonds, notes, accounts payable and savings deposits.

These financial assets entitle their holders to a priority claim over the holders of equities to the assets and income of an individual, business firms or unit of government. The claim is fixed in amount and time (maturity) and depending on the indenture (contract) that accompanies most debt securities, may be backed up by the pledge of specific assets as collateral.

Different Kinds of Financial Assets Debt Securities

Financial analyst divide debt securities into two broad classes:

Negotiable which can easily be transferred from holder to holder as a marketable securities Nonnegotiable which cannot legally be transferred to another party.

Passbook savings accounts are example

Different Kinds of Financial Assets

Derivatives are the among the newest kinds of financial instruments that are closely linked to financial assets.

These unique financial claims have a market value that is tied to or influenced by the value or return on a financial asset, such as stocks and bonds, notes and other loans. Examples include future contracts, options and swaps.

How Financial Assets are Created

We may illustrate this process by showing only two economic units:

Household Business firm

Households buys furniture, automobile, clothes and other items needed. Business firm holds inventories of goods to be sold, raw materials, machinery and equipment.

How Financial Assets are Created

The financial position of these two economic units is presented in the form of a balance sheet. A balance sheet is a financial statement prepared as of a certain date, showing a particular units assets, liabilities and net worth.

How Financial Assets are Created

Assets represent accumulated uses of funds made by an economic unit Liabilities and net worth represent the accumulated sources of funds that an economic unit has drawn upon to acquire the assets it now holds. The net worth (equity) account reflects total savings accumulated over time by each economic unit.

Balance Sheet - household

Asset

Liabilities & Net Worth

Accumulated uses of funds

Cash 13,000 furniture 1,000 Clothes 1,500 Automobile 4,000 Other assets 500 total assets 20,000

Savings

20,000

Total liabilities and net worth

20,000

Balance Sheet Business firm

Asset

Liabilities & Net Worth

Accumulated uses of funds

Inventory Machinery Building Other assets total assets

10,000 25,000 Savings 60,000 5,000 60,000 Total liabilities and net worth

60,000

60,000

Balance Sheet

the example shown is an example of self-finance or internal financing whereby the use of current income and accumulated savings to acquire assets.

Alternatives for Financingbuying new equipment

1. postpone the purchase of the new equipment until sufficient savings can be accumulated 2. sell of some existing assets to raise th necessary funds 3. borrow all or a portion of the needed funds 4. issue new stock (equity)

Alternatives for Financingbuying new equipment

If the business firm decides to borrow, who will lend the funds it needs? In our example of two unit financial system, the household must provide the needed funds. The firm must engage in external financing by issuing to the household securities evidencing a loan of money.

Alternatives for Financingbuying new equipment

In general, if any economic unit wishes to add to its holdings of assets but lacks the necessary resources to so, it can raise additional funds by issuing financial liabilities (borrowing). The buyer will regard the IOUs as an asset a financial asset that may earn income unless the borrower goes out of business and defaults on the loan.

Money as a Financial Asset

Money is the most important asset in the economy. It is one of the oldest and most useful inventions in the history of the world. Metallic coins served as money for many centuries until paper notes (currency) first appeared in China during the Tang Dynasty.

Money as a Financial Asset

All financial assets are valued in terms of money, and Flows of funds between lenders and borrowers occur through the medium of money. Money itself is a financial asset, because all forms of money in use today are claims against some institutions, public or private.

Functions of Money

Medium of exchange Unit of account Standard of value Standard for deferred payment

Functions of Money

Medium of Exchange

Unit of Account

A medium of exchange is an object that is generally accepted in exchange for goods and services. In the absence of money, people would need to exchange goods and services directly, which is called barter. Barter requires a double coincidence of wants, which is rare, so barter is costly.
A unit of account is an agreed measure for stating the prices of goods and services. Money measures the value of goods and services.

Functions of Money

Store of Value

As a store of value, money can be held for a time and later exchanged for goods and services. As a standard of deferred payment, people agree to loan contracts that call for future repayments in terms of money. These contracts defer repayment of a loan until a later date.

Standard of Deferred Payment

Functions of Money

Money functions as the only perfectly liquid asset in the financial system.

An asset is liquid if it can be converted into cash quickly with little or no loss in value. A liquid asset possesses three essential characteristics:

Price stability (stable over time) Ready marketability (has active resale market) reversibility (investor can recover their investment)

Money

Money is the most liquid of all assets because it need not be converted into any other form to be spent. Unfortunately, the most liquid assets, including money, tend to carry the lowest rate of return.

The Value of Money ad other Financial Assets and Inflation

The value of money (its purchasing power) changes due to inflation. Inflation defined as a rise in the average price level of all goods and services.

Inflation lowers the value or purchasing power of money and is a special problem in the money and capital markets. Inflation can damage the value of financial contracts (such as bond or a deposit).

The Value of Money ad other Financial Assets and Inflation

Financial loss due to inflation is particularly likely where the amount of price inflation has not been fully anticipated or if the people and; institutions who agreed to a financial contract were simply not able to adjust fully to the inflation that subsequently occurred.

The Value of Money ad other Financial Assets and Inflation

The opposite of inflation is deflationwhere the average level of prices for goods and services actually declines.

Deflation benefits those whose income doesnt also decline with prices and therefore, can buy more goods and services than they could in the past.

The Value of Money ad other Financial Assets and Inflation

Today most economists measure inflation using popular price indexes, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Producers Price Index (PPI) or the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Value of Money ad other Financial Assets and Inflation

CPI a cost of living index, measure the cost of a market basket of goods and services normally purchased by an urban family of four people. PPI measures the average change over time in the selling prices received by domestic producers for the products and services they turn out. GDP the value of all goods and services produced by a country over a period of time.

The Evolution of Financial Transaction

Financial systems are never static. They change constantly in response to shifting demands from the public, the development of new technology, and changes in laws and regulations. Competition in the market place forces the financial institutions to respond to public need by developing better and more convenient financial services.

The Evolution of Financial Transaction

All financial systems perform a least one basic function they move scarce funds from those who save and lend to those who wish to borrow and invest.

Methods of Fund Transfer

1. direct finance 2. semi-direct finance 3. indirect finance

Methods of Fund Transfer

You engage in direct finance when you borrow money from a friend and give him or her your IOU, or when you purchase stocks or bonds directly from the company issuing them. We call the claims arising from direct finance primary securities because they flow directly from the borrower to the ultimate lender of funds.

Limitations

Lenders and borrowers must have the desire to exchange same amount of funds at the same time. Lender willing to accept the borrowers IOU There must be a co-incidence of wants May incur substantial information cost (finding the lender)

Methods of Fund Transfer

A broker is merely an individual or financial institutions who provides information concerning possible purchases and sale of securities. Either a buyer or a seller of securities may contact a broker, whose job is simply to bring buyers and sellers together.

Methods of Fund Transfer

A new form of financial transaction called semi-direct finance. Individuals and business firms become securities brokers and dealers whose essential function is to bring surplus budget and deficit budget units together. Semi-direct finance lowers the search (information) cost for participants in the financial market which is an improvement over direct finance.

Methods of Fund Transfer

A dealer also serves as an intermediary between buyers and sellers, but the dealer actually acquires the sellers securities in the hope of marketing hem at a later time at a favorable prices. Dealers take a position of risk because, by purchasing securities outright for their own portfolios they are subject losses if those securities decline in value. Brokers and dealers facilitate the development of secondary market in which securities can be offered for resale.

Methods of Fund Transfer

The limitation of both direct and semidirect finance stimulated indirect finance carried out with the help of financial intermediaries. Financial intermediaries include commercial banks, insurance companies, credit unions, finance companies, savings and loan association, savings banks, pensions funds, mutual funds and similar organization.

Methods of Fund Transfer

The fundamental role of indirect finance in the financial system is to serve both ultimate lenders and borrowers but in a much more complete way than brokers and dealers do.

Methods of Fund Transfer

Financial intermediaries issue securities of their own often called secondary securities to ultimate lenders and at the same time accept IOUs from borrowers primary securities.

Methods of Fund Transfer

The secondary securities issued by financial intermediaries include checking and savings accounts, life insurance policies, annuities (series of payment to made or receive- ex. Mortgages, car payment, rent, pension fund payment, insurance premiums) and share in mutual funds.

Low risk of defaults Small denominations

Methods of Fund Transfer

Financial intermediaries accept primary securities from those who need credit taking on financial assets that many savers, especially those with limited funds and limited knowledge of the market.

Types of Financial Institutions

Commercial bank Savings and loan association Savings bank Credit union Life insurance companies Pension funds Finance companies Investment companies (mutual funds) Money market fund Real estate investment trust Mortgage companies

Classification of Financial Institutions

Depository institutions

Contractual institutions

Commercial bank Savings bank Credit union

Investment institutions

Insurance companies Pension funds

Mutual funds Real estate investment trusts

Portfolio Financial Asset

The management of a financial institutions is called on daily to make portfolio decisions that is deciding what financial assets to buy or sell.

Factors to Consider in Portfolio Management

Relative rate of return (profit) and risk Cost, volatility, Maturity of incoming funds Size of the individual financial institutions Regulations and competition

Disintermediation of Funds

Disintermediation means the withdrawal of funds from a financial intermediary by ultimate lenders and the lending of those funds directly to ultimate borrowers. In short, disintermediation involves the shifting of funds from indirect finance to direct and semidirect finance.

You engage in disintermediation when you remove funds from a savings account at the bank and purchase common stock or other financial assets through a broker. This may occur during period of high rise in interest rates.