Financial Markets and Institutions Assume that you recently graduated with a degree in finance and havejust reported to work as an investment adviser at the brokerage firm of Smyth Barry & Co. Your first assignmentis to explain the nature of the U.S. financial markets to Michelle Varga, a professional tennis player who recentlycame to the United States from Mexico. Varga is a highly ranked tennis player who expects to invest substantialamounts of money through Smyth Barry. She is very bright; therefore, she would like to understand in generalterms what will happen to her money. Your boss has developed the following questions that you must use toexplain the U.S. financial system to Varga.

a. What are the three primary ways in which capital is transferred between savers and borrowers? Describe eachone.

b. What is a market? Differentiate between the following types of markets: physical asset markets versusfinancial asset markets, spot markets versus futures markets, money markets versus capital markets,primary markets versus secondary markets, and public markets versus private markets.

c. Why are financial markets essential for a healthy economy and economic growth?

d. What are derivatives? How can derivatives be used to reduce risk? Can derivatives be used to increaserisk? Explain.

e. Briefly describe each of the following financial institutions: investment banks, commercial banks, financialservices corporations, pension funds, mutual funds, exchange traded funds, hedge funds, and privateequity companies.

f. What are the two leading stock markets? Describe the two basic types of stock markets.

g. If Apple Computer decided to issue additional common stock, and Varga purchased 100 shares of this stockfrom Smyth Barry, the underwriter, would this transaction be a primary or a secondary market transaction?Would it make a difference if Varga purchased previously outstanding Apple stock in the dealer market?Explain.

h. What is an initial public offering (IPO)?

i. What does it mean for a market to be efficient? Explain why some stock prices may be more efficient thanothers.

j. After your consultation with Michelle, she wants to discuss these two possible stock purchases:

1. While in the waiting room of your office, she overheard an analyst on a financial TV network say that aparticular medical research company just received FDA approval for one of its products. On the basis ofthis hot information, Michelle wants to buy many shares of that companys stock. Assuming the stock market is highly efficient, what advice would you give her?

2. She has read a number of newspaper articles about a huge IPO being carried out by a leading technologycompany. She wants to purchase as many shares in the IPO as possible and would even be willing to buythe shares in the open market immediately after the issue. What advice do you have for her?

k. How does behavioral finance explain the real world inconsistencies of the efficient markets hypothesis (EMH)