Financial System

Asset and Liability Management (ALM)

In banking, asset and liability management (ALM) is used to manage the risks that arise due to mismatches between the assets and liabilities (debts and assets) of the bank. Banks face several risks like liquidity risk, market risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, and operational risk. Asset Liability Management (ALM) is a strategic management tool to manage interest rate risk and liquidity risk faced by banks, other financial services companies, and corporations. Banks manage the risks of Asset liability mismatch by matching the assets and liabilities according to the maturity pattern or matching the duration, by hedging and by securitization.

Asset and liability management remain high-priority areas for bank regulators, with an emphasis on the management of market risk, liquidity risk, and credit risk.… Read the rest

Abey Francis

Role of Financial Intermediaries in Economic Development

Financial intermediation is defined as the process which had been carried out by the financial intermediaries as the middleman between the borrower (spender) and lender (saver) to smooth the flow of the fund. Financial intermediation called the process of using indirect finance in the financial system, which the primary route to transfer funds from lender to borrower. Those savers who have the surplus money will deposit their funds in the financial institution, which will lend those funds to borrowers such as business firms, households, government, or foreigners who shortage of funds. Financial intermediaries are that financial institutions such as commercial banks, finance companies, or merchant banks.… Read the rest

Abey Francis

The Pros and Cons of Bitcoin

The Bitcoin was designed to be the perfect virtual currency. Bitcoin is completely anonymous, cryptographically secure, and friction-less. It is also invisible to law enforcement as well as the taxman. It can be seen as the holy grail of payments for anyone trying to avoid bank fees while spending money domestically or abroad. On another note it is the perfect trading grounds for members of the underground economy, attempting to avoid law enforcement and prosecution.

Although there are many pros in the use of Bitcoins, there are always cons. Nothing is perfect. The strengths of Bit coin can also be considered its weaknesses.… Read the rest

Abey Francis

The Future of Bitcoin

Bitcoin is a type of digital currency in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units of currency and verify the transfer. P2P network-based virtual currency that is traded online and exchanged into currencies. When paired with third-party services, allows users to mine, buy, sell, or accept bitcoins from anywhere in the world. The offer of transactions with relative anonymity is a significant financial power and brings changes to the future payment systems. Transactions are made with no banks interfering, so there are no transaction fees. More merchants are beginning to accept them. Every-one can buy services, goods but also criminals have a way to transfer very their in-come from illicit activities completely anonymously.… Read the rest

Abey Francis

Importance of Capital Controls in Economic Policy

Globalization of capital investment and finance has surfaced for a long period of time in the world of global financial market. Capital flow liberalization has brought up the importance of capital controls for some countries to achieve their economic growth.

The Description of Capital Controls

Since the failure of Bretton Woods system in 1971, the international capital movements within developed and developing countries become unstable and for some countries the capital flows need to be controlled. Capital controls are restrictions to regulate the movement of capitals which are flowing in or out of the country. Capital flows may be in forms of bank loans, portfolio investment and foreign direct investment.… Read the rest

Abey Francis

How Financial Markets Helps Savers and Borrowers?

What are financial markets and why it is important for savers and borrowers? A financial market is a system that includes individuals and institutions, and procedures that together borrowers and savers and it is no matter where is the location between the savers and borrowers. The main role of the financial market is to facilitate the funds from the individuals and businesses that have the majority fund to individuals, businesses, and governments to fulfill their needs of income. The financial institution is a process used by an organization that provides various types of financial services to their customers. The government authorities have controlled and supervised the institution according to the rules and regulations.… Read the rest

Abey Francis