International Finance Essay

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Question: Explain, using examples of different financial institutions, the advantages of financial intermediation through intermediaries. To what extent do you agree with the view that financial institutions and markets are essential to the operation of a modern economy? The world of finance is like the global economy has undergone major changes over the last few decades. Nonetheless, there are some fundamental principles of finance that do not change; one is that higher return is usually associated with higher risk, and another is that financial instruments and financial institutions will only survive in a marketplace if they are able to meet clients’ needs at a competitive price. For this reason, there are a wide range of financial intermediaries and financial instruments servicing these needs. A financial intermediary is an individual or a company that assist in the transfer of funds from surplus agents to deficit agents. It includes savings and loan associations, building and loan associations, saving banks, commercial banks, life insurance companies, credit unions and investment companies. Generally, financial intermediaries act as a go-between two or more parties to a financial transaction. One party is usually the provider of a service or product, and the other party is usually the client or customer. Financial intermediation is a process of originating and exchanging financial assets and liabilities. It is channeling funds from those with a surplus to those with a deficit. In other words, it is the routing of savings to investment through financial intermediaries. The process involves two contracts: an IOU issued by the financial intermediary to the saver or supplier of funds and the purchase of a direct security which is loan from a borrower or investor in real investment. With two contracts, each may be tailored to the needs of the customer of the

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