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1. What main functions do banks play in the financial sector?
Banks fulfil three main roles: they help operate the clearing/payments system; serve as
financial intermediaries by taking deposits and making loans; and offer off balance sheet
activities such as derivatives, guarantees and other credit substitutes.
2. Distinguish between funding through open financial markets and funding through
financial intermediaries. Explain why there is a role for banks even though the interest
cost of funds is typically much higher for funding through financial intermediaries than for
funding through open financial markets.
Funding through open capital markets occurs when a surplus unit lends directly to a deficit unit.
This usually involves a contract or financial instrument defining the terms of the loan.
Frequently facilitators (brokers or dealers) create and issue standardised debt or equity
contracts on behalf of the deficit units, for issue to the surplus units.
Funding through a financial intermediary involves a surplus unit lending to a financial
intermediary (deposits), then in a separate transaction the financial intermediary lends the
funds to a deficit unit.
The interest cost of funds is typically much higher for funding through financial intermediaries
than for funding through open financial markets, however intermediaries have a continuing
role because they create value for their customers. Depositors benefit from the quick easy
access to their funds when held in very low risk deposits. Borrowers benefit from
intermediaries’ skills in credit risk assessment. Depositors and borrowers benefit since their
search costs are minimised in finding desired contracts (e.g. desired size, maturity, risk,
structure), and the economy generally benefits from the role played by banks as creators of
money.
3. Describe what surplus units, deficit units, shareholders and bank regulators want from
bank management. Are these wants complementary or conflicting?
Surplus units primarily require banks to provide safe deposit facilities, a range of deposit
products to meet their needs, including easy access to their funds through branches, electronic
access, etc., and a high return.