Overview

Financial markets and institutions form the backbone of the modern global economy. They channel savings into productive investments, facilitate risk management, and enable the efficient allocation of resources across borders and generations. Yet these same systems have repeatedly demonstrated their capacity for instability, giving rise to crises that reshape societies and economies. This textbook seeks to provide university students with a rigorous yet accessible understanding of both the mechanics and the deeper dynamics of financial systems. The book is organized around the core components of modern finance. We begin with an overview of financial markets and institutions, examining their structure, functions, and the critical role of intermediaries. Subsequent chapters explore the major asset classes in depth: bond markets, stock markets, and derivative markets, with particular attention to the instruments, pricing mechanisms, and market conventions that define each. Dedicated sections on bond pricing and stock valuation equip students with the analytical tools needed to assess fixed-income securities and equities using both traditional and contemporary methods. A central theme throughout is the interplay between innovation and instability. The chapter on financial crises traces recurring patterns across history-from the Great Depression to the 2008 global financial crisis-highlighting the common threads of excessive leverage, misaligned incentives, and regulatory gaps. This historical perspective informs our discussion of international finance, where we examine exchange rate regimes, balance-of-payments dynamics, and the challenges of financial globalization. By integrating theoretical foundations with real-world applications, this text aims to prepare students not only to understand financial markets as they exist today but also to anticipate how they may evolve tomorrow. Whether pursuing careers in banking, investment management, policy, or academia, readers will find the analytical framework and institutional knowledge essential for navigating an increasingly complex and interconnected financial landscape. I am grateful to my students over the years, whose questions and insights have continually shaped my approach to teaching these subjects. It is my hope that this book will serve as a reliable companion in their exploration of finance.

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