Includes glossary and index.

Contents: 1. Introduction: Why study financial markets and institutions? -- Overview of the financial system -- 2. Fundamentals of financial markets: What do interest rates mean and what is their role in valuation? -- Why do interest rates change? -- How do risk and term structure affect interest rates? -- Are financial markets efficient? -- 3. Fundamentals of financial institutions: Why do financial institutions exist? -- Why do financial crises occur and why are they so damaging to the economy? -- 4. Central banking and the conduct of monetary policy: Central banks: a global perspective -- Conduct of monetary policy: tools, goals, strategy, and tactics -- 5. Financial markets: The money markets -- The bond market -- The stock market -- The mortgage markets -- The foreign exchange markets -- The international financial system -- 6. The financial institutions industry: Banking and the management of financial institutions -- Financial regulation -- Banking industry: structure and competition -- The mutual fund industry -- Insurance companies and pension funds -- Investment banks, security brokers and dealers, and venture capital firms -- 7.The management of financial institutions: Risk management in financial institutions -- Hedging with financial derivatives --