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part 1 1. Why are bond markets important? 2. Why are stock markets important? 3.

ID: 1179446 • Letter: P

Question

part 1

1. Why are bond markets important?

2. Why are stock markets important?

3. Why are banks important?

4. What aspects of the economy are affected by the money supply?

5. What are the four phases of a business cycle? How does money supply affect business

cycles?

6. What is the relationship between money supply growth and inflation?

7. What is monetary policy? What is fiscal policy?

8. What is the foreign exchange market?

9. How does an appreciation of a currency affect the economy?

10. How does a depreciation of a currency affect an economy?

part 2

1. What are the two components of a financial system? What is direct finance? Indirect

finance?

2. What is the role of financial markets?

3. Explain the following classifications of financial markets

a. Debt and. equity markets

b. Primary and secondary markets

c. Exchanges and over-the-counter markets

d. Money and capital markets

4. List and briefly explain each money market instrument.

5. List the capital market instruments.

6. Explain why financial intermediaries play an important role in the economy (address the

following: transactions costs, risk sharing, information costs, and economies of scope).

7. What is asymmetric information? What are the two problems that arise when there is

asymmetric information in the financial system?

8. Explain the adverse selection and moral hazard problems that are a result of asymmetric

information.

9. What are the different types of financial intermediaries in the U.S. economy?

10. Which financial intermediaries are classified as depository institutions (or banks)?

11. What are the two main reasons why the government regulates the financial system?

12. What are the different types of financial regulations implemented by the government in

the U.S.?


Explanation / Answer

1)For market participants who own a bond, collect the coupon and hold it to maturity, market volatility is irrelevant; principal and interest are received according to a pre-determined schedule.

But participants who buy and sell bonds before maturity are exposed to many risks, most importantly changes in interest rates. When interest rates increase, the value of existing bonds falls, since new issues pay a higher yield. Likewise, when interest rates decrease, the value of existing bonds rises, since new issues pay a lower yield. This is the fundamental concept of bond market volatility: changes in bond prices are inverse to changes in interest rates. Fluctuating interest rates are part of a country's monetary policy and bond market volatility is a response to expected monetary policy and economic changes.

Economists' views of economic indicators versus actual released data contribute to market volatility. A tight consensus is generally reflected in bond prices and there is little price movement in the market after the release of "in-line" data. If the economic release differs from the consensus view, the market usually undergoes rapid price movement as participants interpret the data. Uncertainty (as measured by a wide consensus) generally brings more volatility before and after an economic release. Economic releases vary in importance and impact depending on where the economy is in the business cycle.

2)Stock market is an important part of the economy of a country. The stock market plays a play a pivotal role in the growth of the industry and commerce of the country that eventually affects the economy of the country to a great extent. That is reason that the government, industry and even the central banks of the country keep a close watch on the happenings of the stock market. The stock market is important from both the industry