financial market report
FINANCIAL MARKETS
Topic 1
Introduction to Financial Markets
1
Overview
2
RMIT University©
2
financial system Components
Nature and classification of financial markets
Direct and indirect finance
Relationship between financial markets and the real economy
The government and financial markets
Types of Financial Institution
What is the financial system?
1. Financial system comprises a range of financial institutions, instruments, markets that facilitate transactions for goods and services and financial transactions
2. The key elements of the Australian financial system are
Financial instruments
Financial markets
Financial institutions
3
Functions of the financial system
To facilitate the transfer of funds from surplus economic units to deficit economic units, by the creation of new financial assets
To facilitate the trade of existing financial assets
4
RMIT University©
4
Components of the financial system
Surplus economic units
Deficit economic units
Financial institutions
Financial assets
Financial markets
5
RMIT University©
5
Components of the financial system
Surplus economic units
Individuals, households and companies with more funds than required for immediate expenditure
Savers
Potential lenders
Deficit economic units
Individuals, households, companies who require additional funds to meet expenditure plans
Potential borrowers
6
6
Components of the financial system
Financial Institutions
Organisations whose core business involves:
Borrowing and lending (financial intermediation)
Provision of financial services
Financial assets/financial instruments
Are issued by a deficit economic unit
Acknowledge a financial commitment and entitle the holder to specified future cash flows
7
7
RMIT University©
8
THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM: The financial markets and flow of funds
8
Types of financial assets
Debt
Equity
Hybrid
Derivatives
9
RMIT University©
9
Types of financial assets
Debt financial assets
Represent an obligation on the part of the borrower to repay principal and interest.
Deposits and loans
Contractual savings
Discount securities
Fixed interest securities
10
RMIT University©
10
Types of financial assets
Equity financial assets
Represent an ownership claim over the profits and assets of a business.
Ordinary shares
11
RMIT University©
11
Types of financial assets
Hybrid financial assets
Financial assets which have features of both debt and equity.
Preference shares
Convertible notes (bonds)
12
RMIT University©
12
Types of financial assets
Derivatives
Financial assets whose value is derived from another financial asset, rate or index.
Forward contracts
Futures
Options
Swaps
13
RMIT University©
13
When considering investment options...
Attributes of Financial assets
Return vs Risks
Liquidity
Time pattern of the cash flows
Portfolio structuring
14
Attributes of financial assets
Return vs Risk
Return = The gain or loss of an investment over a specified period, expressed as a percentage increase over the initial investment cost **
** Gains/losses on investments = periodic income received from the security + realized capital gains / losses
Risk = The chance that an investment's actual return will be different than expected.
There is always a trade off between risk and return.
15
Attributes of financial assets
Liquidity
The degree to which an asset or security can be bought or sold in the market without affecting the asset's price.
The ability to convert an asset to cash quickly. (also known as "marketability”)
Particularly critical with a high level of trading activity.
It is safer to invest in liquid assets than illiquid ones because it is easier for you to get your money out of the investment.
16
Attributes of financial assets
Time pattern of the cash flows
When the specified or expected cash flows related to a financial asset are to be received by an investor.
When, how much, how often
17
Attributes of financial assets
Portfolio structuring:
A combination of assets and liabilities to maximize the returns from a set of investment for a given level of risk.
A good portfolio is not simply a collection of individually good investments.
18
By the nature of the assets
Primary markets
Markets in which financial assets are first created
Markets in which funds flow from surplus economic units to deficit economic units
Secondary Markets
Markets in which existing financial assets are traded – Financial Securities
Deficit economic units do not directly participate in secondary market transactions
19
Classification of financial markets
19
By the term of the assets
Money markets
Funds are lent for periods of less than 12 months
Capital Markets
Funds are lent for periods of 12 months or more
20
RMIT University©
Classification of financial markets
20
How to borrow or invest?
Two alternative methods of finance
21
RMIT University©
Direct finance
Indirect finance
21
Direct finance
Funds are transferred directly from surplus economic units to deficit economic units
Primary financial assets are issued directly from deficit units to surplus units
Financial institutions play a role in direct finance by providing financial services, such as financial advice, underwriting, etc., in return for fees and commissions
22
RMIT University©
22
Indirect finance
Also known as intermediated finance
Financial institutions act as intermediaries, borrowing from surplus units and lending to deficit units
Primary financial assets are issued by deficit units to intermediaries, and secondary financial assets are issued by intermediaries to surplus units
Financial institutions earn income by way of net interest margin
23
23
Advantages of financial intermediation
Asset value transformation
Maturity transformation
Credit risk reduction and diversification
Liquidity provision
24
RMIT University©
These are very useful for households
Increased quantity of national savings
24
Disadvantages of financial intermediation
Increased cost of funds for borrowers
Reduced return from lending for savers
Why?
Institutions take a net interest margin
e.g. Bank Borrows at 5.5% Term deposit/Lends at 8.5% loan >> Profit margin 3%
It is less likely for secondary financial assets to be securitised (i.e. Financial securities)
25
RMIT University©
25
Main types of financial institutions
Deposit Taking Financial Institutions: attract the savings of depositors through on-demand deposit and term deposit accounts.
e.g. commercial banks, building societies and credit cooperatives.
Non Deposit Taking Financial Institutions: may manage funds under contractual arrangements and provide a wide range of financial services.
e.g. Investment banks, general insurance companies and superannuation funds.
26
26
RMIT University©
27
Main types of financial institutions
Commercial banks
Building societies and credit cooperatives
Investment banks and Merchant Banks
Managed funds
Life insurance offices and general insurance offices
Finance companies and general financiers
27
Institution features
Total Assets (Percentage Share) of Financial Institutions
28
RMIT University© 2011
| Main Types of Financial Institutions as at June 2017 | ||||
| Type of institution | Main supervisor/ regulator | Number of institutions | Total assets ($b) | Percentage share |
| Banks | APRA | 83 | 4,187.30 | 59.01% |
| Building societies | APRA | 4 | 13 | 0.18% |
| Credit unions | APRA | 54 | 37.6 | 0.53% |
| Non-ADI Financial Institutions | 0.00% | |||
| Money market corporations (broker-dealers) | ASIC | 9[4] | 31.3 | 0.44% |
| Finance companies | ASIC | 112[4] | 140.6 | 1.98% |
| Securitisers | – | 125.3 | 1.77% | |
| Insurers and Funds Managers | 0.00% | |||
| Life insurance companies | APRA | 29 | 173 | 2.44% |
| General insurance companies | APRA | 104 | 170.4 | 2.40% |
| Health insurance companies | APRA | 37 | 13.8 | 0.19% |
| Superannuation and approved deposit funds | APRA | 2,338 | 1,865.10 | 26.28% |
| Public unit trusts | ASIC | – | 290.2 | 4.09% |
| Cash management trusts | ASIC | – | 34 | 0.48% |
| Common funds | State and territory authorities | – | 9.3 | 0.13% |
| Friendly societies | APRA | 12 | 5.5 | 0.08% |
| Source: http://www.rba.gov.au/fin-stability/fin-inst/main-types-of-financial-institutions.html#fn3 |
28
Main types of financial institutions
Commercial banks
Commercial banks are the largest group of financial institutions within a financial system.
The core business of banks is often described as the gathering of savings (deposits) in order to provide loans for investment.
They also provide a wide range of off-balance-sheet transactions such a underwriting, issue of derivatives or execute FX transactions.
29
RMIT University©
29
Main types of financial institutions
Managed Funds
Attract the savings from individual investors and invest in both money and capital market.
Funds normally managed by professional investment managers with extensive investment knowledge and skills.
Managers seek to maximise the return on investment portfolios at given level of risk.
Provide access to wholesale markets (not an intermediary).
Investors in the fund obtain a right to the assets of the fund or the income derived from those assets.
George Soros and the Quantum Fund
30
Main types of financial institutions
Managed Funds (cont’d)
The main types of managed funds are
cash management trusts, public unit trusts, superannuation funds (also a contractual institution), statutory funds of life offices, common funds and friendly societies.
The large pool of funds is then used to purchase both primary and secondary market securities
Managed funds may be categorised by their investment risk profile, being capital guaranteed funds, capital stable funds, balanced growth funds, managed or capital growth funds.
31
31
Main types of financial institutions
Life and general insurance
The liabilities of these institutions are contractual. They provide a contract that require, in return for periodic payments to the institution, the institution to make payments to the contract holders if a specified event occurs, e.g.:
life and general insurance companies
The large pool of funds is then used to purchase both primary and secondary market securities
Payouts are made for insurance claims and to retirees
32
RMIT University©
32
Main types of financial institutions
Building societies and credit unions
Authorised deposit-taking institutions that primarily give loans for housing finance.
The majority of building society funds are deposits from customers. Residential housing is the main form of lending. Credit unions funds are sourced primarily from deposits of members.
A defining characteristic of a credit union is the common bond of association of its members, usually based on employment, industry or community.
33
RMIT University©
33
Main types of financial institutions
Investment banks and merchant banks (MM Corp)
Mainly provide off-balance-sheet (OBS) advisory services to support corporate and government clients, e.g.:
advice on mergers and acquisitions, portfolio restructuring, finance and risk management
May also provide some loans to clients but are more likely to advise on raising funds directly in capital markets.
They also execute FX transactions
34
RMIT University©
34
Main types of financial institutions
Finance companies
Finance companies make loans, provide lease finance and factoring options to customers in the household and business sectors
Funds are raised by issuing financial securities, such as commercial paper, medium-term notes and bonds, directly into money markets and capital markets
35
RMIT University©
35
Main types of financial institutions
Finance companies
Finance companies with bank background
AGC---Westpac
Esanda---ANZ
CBFC---CBA
Finance companies with corporation background
GE Money--- General Electric Company
Ford Credit --- Ford Motor
36
RMIT University©
36
Economic markets
Resource markets
Output markets
(goods & services)
Financial markets
37
RMIT University©
Circular Flow
Source: "Interactive Economics 2000" is copyright Michael Jarrett 2000
37
How does the financial system impact on macroeconomic economic objectives?
Economic growth
Full employment
Price stability
External balance
Efficient allocation of resources
Equitable distribution of income and wealth
38
RMIT University©
38
Impact of the financial system
Economic growth
to raise sufficient funds to finance necessary infrastructure projects for sustained economic development, a well-developed financial system is necessary.
39
RMIT University©
39
Impact of the financial system
Full employment
Level of employment is directly related to aggregate demand and economic growth.
Cost and availability of funds is a strong determinant of aggregate demand, and therefore level of employment.
40
RMIT University©
40
Impact of the financial system
Price stability
Rate of inflation is significantly determined by aggregate demand
Hence, cost and availability of funds (which is a strong determinant of aggregate demand) will also impact on inflation.
41
RMIT University©
41
Impact of the financial system
External Balance
reflected in a country’s balance of payment (BOP) and exchange rate (ER) value of its currency
42
RMIT University©
External balance: refers to the situation when the current account is neither to positive nor too negative.
A large current account deficit can make foreigners think that an economy can not repay its debts and therefore make them stop lending, causing a financial crisis.
A large current account surplus can cause protectionist or other political pressure by foreign governments (e.g., pressure on Japan in the 1980s and China in the 2000s).
42
Impact of the financial system
External Balance (cont’d)
BOP & ER are affected by the financial system:
conditions in financial markets (domestic and global) affect cost and availability of funds
availability of funds affects imports and exports AND capital inflows and outflows
international transactions determine Ss and Dd of a currency, the value of the currency will be affected
43
RMIT University©
In Singapore, the monetary policy is directed at stabilizing the exchange rate.
43
Impact of the financial system
Efficient allocation of resources
Non-market factors affect market competition
Efficient allocation requires that financial markets direct funds to the highest yielding form of expenditure
Efficient allocation of resources is best achieved by competitive markets and least amount of government intervention
44
RMIT University©
44
Impact of the financial system
Equitable distribution of income and wealth
Non-market factors (such as government intervention) that affect cost and flow of funds will cause inequitable distribution of wealth
For example, ceilings on particular interest rates means some will benefit and others disadvantaged.
45
RMIT University©
45
Government policy
In terms of government regulation, the last 50 years can be divided into the following distinct periods:
Regulation (pre-1980s)
Deregulation (1980s)
Post-deregulation (1990s onward)
46
RMIT University©
46
Reasons for government intervention
Macroeconomic objectives:
growth, full employment, price stability, external balance
Efficient, fair and competitive financial system
Promotion of financial safety
47
RMIT University©
47
Methods of government intervention
Fiscal policy (budget and taxes)
Monetary policy (RBA)
External policy (tariff and cap on fund flows)
Wages policy (superannuation)
Direct legislation (corporation law)
Competition policy (avoid oligo/monopolies)
Consumer protection (ombudsman, ACCC)
48
RMIT University©
48
Overview
49
RMIT University©
49
financial system Components
Nature and classification of financial markets
Direct and indirect finance
Relationship between financial markets and the real economy
The government and financial markets
Types of Financial Institution