CHAPTER 13

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, MARKETS AND EQUITIES

 

SAVINGS AND THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM

 

·       GENERAL INFORMATION

 

o       SAVING – DEF – THE ABSENCE OF CONSUMPTION

o       SAVINGS – DEF – DOLLARS THAT BECOME AVAILABLE FOR BORROWING AND INVESTMENT

o       SAVINGS MAKE ECONOMIC GROWTH POSSIBLE

o       A FINANCIAL SYSTEM TRANSFERS SAVINGS INTO INVESTMENT

o       FINANCIAL ASSETS – DEF – CLAIMS ON INCOME OR PROPERTY OF THE BORROWER

o       EX – CD, MORTGAGE, BONDS, TREASURY BILLS

o       WHEN FUNDS ARE LENT, A FINANCIAL ASSET IS CREATED

 

·       FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

o      INSTITUTIONS THAT BRING TOGETHER SURPLUS FUNDS AND FINANCIAL ASSETS

o      THE BEST EXAMPLES ARE BANKS AND THRIFTS (S & L’S)

 

·       NON-BANK FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

o       FINANCE COMPANIES

§        INSTITUTIONS THAT SPECIALIZE IN BUYING INSTALLMENT CONTRACTS FROM MERCHANTS OR BY OFFERING BILL CONSOLIDATION LOANS

§        EX – HFC, GIRARD, BENEFICIAL, MONY

 

o       LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES

§        THESE INSTITUTIONS INVEST SURPLUS PREMIUMS AFTER CLAIMS ARE SATISFIED

 

o       MUTUAL  FUNDS

§        PEOPLE BUY SHARES IN A MUTUAL FUND WHICH IN TURN INVESTS THE MONEY IN CORPORATE STOCKS AND BONDS

§        THE MUTUAL FUND ALLOWS THE SMALL INVESTOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIVERSIFY A PORTFOLIO BECAUSE OF ECONOMIES OF SCALE

 

o       PENSION FUNDS

§        A FUND IS SET UP TO COLLECT INCOME AND DISPERSE INCOME ESPECIALLY TO RETIREES

§        THE FUND GENERATES INCOME BY INVESTING SURPLUS CONTRIBUTIONS IN FINANCIAL ASSETS

 

o       REITS – REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS

§        THEY MAKE LOANS TO CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES THAT BUILD OFFICE BUILDINGS, MALLS AND CONDOS

§        THEY BORROW MONEY FROM BANKS AND REPAY THESE LOANS FROM THE RENTS AND MORTGAGES RECEIVED FROM THE  CONSTRUCTED UNITS

 

INVESTING IN FINANCIAL ASSETS

 

·        INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS

o       RISK

§        DEF – AN OUTCOME THAT CANNOT BE PREDICTED BUT WHERE PROBABILITIES CAN BE ESTIMATED

·        A JUNK  BOND IS THE RISKIEST BUT GENERATES THE HIGHEST RETURNS

·        U.S. TREASURY BILLS ARE THE SAFEST

§        AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS INVESTING SHOULD TAKE A RISK NO GREATER THAT WHAT THEY ARE COMFORTABLE WITH (RISK TOLERANCE)

o       GOALS

§        THE ACCUMULATION OF WEALTH

·        TYPICALLY FOR RETIREMENT

·        ASSETS THAT APPRECIATE ARE TYPICALLY INVESTED IN SUCH THINGS AS STOCK AND LAND

o       USUALLY A LONG TIME HORIZON

§        TO ACCUMULATE RESERVES

·        MAY BE FOR A RAINY DAY OR FOR AN EXPENSIVE PURCHASE

o       COLLEGE, WEDDING, UNEMPLOYMENT, AUTO, HOME

o       ASSETS THAT ARE SOUGHT ARE THOSE THAT AN EASILY BE LIQUEFIED

§        SHORT TIME HORIZON

§        INCOME

·        ANNUITIES AND UTILITIES

o       LITTLE OR NO RISK

§        TAX AVOIDANCE

·        PEOPLE IN HIGH INCOME BRACKETS COULD BUY “MUNIE’S” OR INVEST IN IRA’S OR A 401 K

·         

·       SECRETS TO SUCCESSFUL INVESTING

 

o       INVEST REGULARLY  - BE CONSISTENT

§        USE A PAYROLL DEDUCTION – TAKE ADVANTAGE OF “DOLLAR COST AVERAGING”

 

o       INVEST IN WHAT YOU ARE  FAMILIAR WITH – AVOID COMPLEXITY

 

o       DIVERSIFY

§        DON’T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS INTO 1 BASKET

§        ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A LARGE PORTFOLIO

 

·        BONDS

o       DEF – A LONG TERM OBLIGATION TO PAY A STATED RATE OF INTEREST FOR A SPECIFIED NUMBER OF YEARS

o       BOND TERMINOLOGY

§        COUPON – THE INTEREST RATE

§        MATURITY – THE LIFE OF THE  BOND

§        PAR VALUE – THE COST OF THE BOND (PRINCIPAL)

·        TECHNICALLY BOND PRICES ARE NEGOTIABLE – THE PRICE IS DETERMINED BY SUPPLY AND DEMAND

§        YIELD – THE ANNUAL DIVIDEND DIVIDED BY THE PURCHASE PRICE

o       CREDIT WORTHINESS IS IMPORTANT WHEN BUYING BONDS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT INSURED

o       MOODY’S AND STANDARD AND POORS ARE 2 COMPANIES THAT PUBLISH BOND RATINGS

§        FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE BOND RATING

·        FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE ISSUER

·        ABILITY TO MAKE FUTURE COUPON PAYMENTS

·        PAST CREDIT HISTORY

o       AAA IS THE HIGHEST

o       D IS THE LOWEST (DEFAULT)

§        CHECK THE CHART ON PAGE 328

o       ANYTHING BELOW BB FOR STANDARD AND POORS AND BELOW BB FOR MOODY’S IS CONSIDERED AS HIGH RISK OR A  JUNK BOND

 

·       FINANCIAL ASSETS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS

 

o       A FINANCIAL ASSET REPRESENTS A LOAN TO A CORPORATION IN THE FORM OF A BOND

o       TYPES

§        CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT – A TIME DEPOSIT

·        THEY VARY ACCORDING TO SIZE AND MATURITY

o       THE LONGER THE MATURITY, THE HIGHER THE INTEREST RATE

o       JUMBO CD - $100,000

·        INSURED BY FDIC

·        SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST FOR EARLY WITHDRAWAL

§        CORPORATE BONDS

·        LONG TERM INVESTMENTS WHICH CAN BE LIQUIDATED EASILY

o       REPRESENT A LOAN TO A CORPORATION

o       CREDITORS OF A CORPORATION

§        MUNICIPAL BONDSMUNIE’S

·        ISSUED BY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO FINANCE HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES, SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS , SCHOOLS ETC

·        THEY ARE ATTRACTIVE BECAUSE THEY ARE SAFE AND THEY ARE TAX EXEMPT

o       THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN’T TAX THIS INTEREST

o       SOME STATES ALSO EXEMPT THIS INTEREST

·        THIS IS A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR WEALTHY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN HIGHER TAX BRACKETS

§        GOVERNMENT SAVINGS BONDS

·        PURCHASED AT A DISCOUNT

o       YOU PAY $18.76 FOR A $25.00 BOND

·        THEY ARE NON TRANSFERABLE

§        INTERNATIONAL BONDS

·        USUALLY PURCHASED BY PENSION FUNDS OR INSURANCE COMPANIES

·        YOU ACTUALLY PURCHASE THE DEBT OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY

o       THE COUPON (INTEREST) IS PAID IN THE CURRENCY OF THE ISSUING COUNTRY

§        THIS INTEREST COULD BE GREATER OR LESS THAN EXPECTED

§        THESE BONDS USUALLY HAVE A STARTING PRICE AROUND $1,000,000

§        MONEY MARKET MUTUAL FUNDS

·        USUALLY MAKE LOANS IN THE FORM OF CD’S TO OTHER BORROWERS

·        RISKIER THAN A REGULAR CD BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT INSURED BY FDIC AND AS A RESULT THEY WILL PAY A HIGHER RETURN

·        THEY USUALLY PROVIDE CHECK WRITING PRIVILEGES

§        TREASURY NOTES AND BONDS

·        NOTES HAVE MATURITY OF 2 TO 10 YEARS

·        BONDS HAVE A MATURITY OF 10 TO 30 YEARS

·        SAFEST FORM OF FINANCIAL ASSET SO THE RETURN IS THE LOWEST

o       BACKED BY THE FULL FAITH AND  CREDIT OF THE  U.S.

§        TREASURY BILLS – T BILLS

·        BOUGHT AND SOLD BY THE FED

·        MATURITY OF 1 YEAR OR LESS

·        USUALLY SOLD AT A DISCOUNT

§        IRA’S – INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS

·        INTENDED TO SUPPLEMENT SOCIAL SECURITY

·        WITHDRAWALS ARE TYPICALLY DEFERRED UNTIL AGE 59 1/2

o       EARLY WITHDRAWALS ARE SUBJECT TO A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST PENALTY

§        EXCEPTIONS

·        COLLEGE EDUCATION

·        MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

·        TRADITIONAL IRA’S ARE A TAX EXEMPT DEPOSIT

o       MONIES ARE TAXABLE WHEN THEY ARE WITHDRAWS

·        ROTH IRA’S ARE PURCHASED WITH AFTER TAX DOLLARS

o       MONEY, WHEN THEY ARE WITHDRAWN, ARE TAX EXEMPT

§        401 K

·        AN ARRANGEMENT WHERE AN EMPLOYER ENCOURAGES AN EMPLOYEE TO SAVE FOR RETIREMENT WITH A PROMISE TO MATCH A PART OF THE CONTRIBUTION

·        SIMILAR TO A STOCK SHARING PLAN

 

o       FINANCIAL ASSETS ARE CLASSIFIED BY

§        TIME

·        CAPITAL MARKETS ARE MARKETS WHERE MONEY IS LENT FOR MORE THAN 1 YEAR

·        MONEY MARKETS ARE MARKETS WHERE MONEY IS LENT FOR LESS THAN 1 YEAR

§        HOW TRADED

·        PRIMARY MARKETS – ONLY THE ORIGINAL ISSUER CAN REDEEM THE FINANCIAL ASSET

·        SECONDARY MARKETS – THE ASSET CAN BE BOUGHT AND SOLD

o       THIS PROVIDES MORE LIQUIDITY TO THE INVESTOR

 

INVESTING IN EQUITIES, FUTURES AND OPTIONS

 

·        EQUITIES REPRESENT SHARES OF OWNERSHIP IN A CORPORATION

 

·        FINANCIAL ASSETS REPRESENT A LOAN

 

·        FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE MARKET VALUE OF EQUITIES

 

o       THE NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING SHARES

§        THE HIGHER THE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING, THE LOWER THE MARKET VALUE

o       EXPECTATIONS

 

·        EMHEFFICIENT MARKET HYPOTHESIS

o       STOCKS ARE PRICED JUST RIGHT AND BARGAINS ARE HARD TO FIND

§        TRANSLATION – IT IS HARD TO BEAT THE MARKET

§        THIS IS THE REASON WHY SPECULATION IS USUALLY DISASTROUS

§        PORTFOLIO DIVERSIFICATION IS THE BEST STRATEGY

·        A STOCKBROKER IS AN INDIVIDUAL OR A COMPANY WHO HAS A SEAT ON THE EXCHANGE AN IS ABLE TO BUY AND SELL SECURITIES

 

·       ORGANIZED EXCHANGES

o       NYSE- THE OLDEST, LARGEST AND MOST PRODIGIOUS – 14,000 SEATS

§        80% OF ALL FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS OCCUR HERE

§        LISTS 2,400 STOCKS OF OVER 1,900 COMPANIES WHICH ARE CONSIDERED AS THE LARGEST AND MOST PROFITABLE

o       AMEX

§        HAAS OVER  600 SEATS AND LISTS OVER 1000  STOCKS

§        MORE SPECULATIVE THAN THE NYSE

o       REGIONAL EXCHANGES

§        STOCKS LISTED HER ARE TYPICALLY TOO NEW OR TOO SMALL TO BE LISTED ON THE MAJOR EXCHANGES

o       INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES

§        MIP, TOKYO, FRANKFORT, HONG KONG

·        STOCKS ARE ALSO TRADED OVER THE COUNTER

o       THIS IS THE ELECTRONIC MARKETPLACE

o       OTC TRADES ARE MADE BY NASD AND ARE QUOTED ON NASDAQ

§        THESE STOCKS TYPICALLY DO NOT PAY DIVIDENDS

·        AT ONE TIME, THEY WERE TYPICALLY NEW AND GROWING COMPANIES

 

·        MEASURES OF STOCK PERFORMANCE

o       DJIA DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE

§        TRACKS 30 REPRESENTATIVE STOCKS FROM THE NYSE WHICH ARE TYPICALLY THE 30 LARGEST COMPANIES LISTED

§        THESE COMPANIES COME AND GO

§        A 1 POINT MOVE IN THE AVERAGE REPRESENTS A 45 CENT CHANGE IN THE TOTAL PRICE OF ALL 30 STOCKS

o       S & P 500

§        MONITORS COMPANIES LISTED ON THE NYSE, AMEX AND OTC MARKETS

§        THIS IS MORE BROAD BASED

o       WILSHIRE 1000 AND RUSSELL 2000

§        THESE ARE  EVEN MORE BROAD  BASED

 

TRADING IN SPOT, FUTURES AND OPTION MARKETS

 

·        BOTH EQUITIES AND COMMODITIES ARE TRADED IN THESE MARKETS

·        THE NY MERCANTILE EXCHANGE, CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE, KANSAS CITY BOARD OF TRADE

·        SPOT MARKETS ARE MARKETS WHERE TRADES ARE MADE IN THE PRESENT

·        FUTURES ARE MARKETS WHERE TRADES ARE NEGOTIATED FOR THE SALE OR PURCHASE OF SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE (USUALLY 6 MONTHS) AT A PRICE SPECIFIED TODAY

o       THESE TEND TO BE SPECULATIVE

 

o       AN OPTIONS MARKET IS A UNIQUE TYPE OF FUTURES MARKET WHERE BUYER AND SELLER TRY TO HEDGE THE MARKET

 

§        A CALL OPTION GIVES SOMEONE THE  RIGHT TO BUY A STOCK OR COMMODITY IN THE FUTURE

·        FOR EXAMPLE – IF YOU BUY AN OPTION FOR   $70 AND THE STOCK IS SELLING FOR $50 DOWN THE ROAD YOU TEAR UP THE OPTION AND BUY THE STOCK FOR $50 BUT IF THE STOCK IS SELLING FOR $80, YOU EXERCISE YOUR OPTION BUY  THE STOCK FOR  $70 AND SELL IT FOR $80 AND COLLECT THE PROFIT

o       IF YOU TEAR UP THE OPTION, YOUR ONLY EXPENSE IS THE COST OF THE OPTION

o       THERE IS ALWAYS AN ASSUMPTION THAT THERE  WILL BE A BUYER FOR THE STOCK

 

§        A PUT OPTION GIVES SOMEONE THE RIGHT TO SELL SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE

·        FOR EXAMPLE – IF YOU AGREE TO SELL SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE FOR $50 AND THE PRICE FALLS TO $40 YOU WOULD REQUIRE THE BUYER TO PAY THE $59, PAY THE OPTION AND POCKET THE PROFIT; IF THE PRICE WERE $80 YOU WOULD TEAR UP THE OPTION AND SELL IT  FOR $80

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