CHAPTER TWO
ASSET CLASSES AND FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
This chapter describes the financial instruments traded in the primary and secondary markets. The
various market indexes that are used as indicators of "the market" are also described. The chapter
concludes with a discussion of options and futures.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this chapter the student should have a thorough understanding of the various
financial instruments available to the potential investor. The student should have an insight as to the
interpretation, composition, and calculation process involved in the various market indexes presented on
the evening news. Finally, the student should have some understanding of the basics of options and
futures contracts.
Presentation of Material
An overview of the various financial instruments is displayed in PPT 2-3. Discussion of the major
classes serves as a base for the discussion of the chapter material.
PPT 2-3 Major Classes of Financial Assets or Securities
1. Money Market Instruments
The major money market instruments that are discussed in the text are presented in PPT 2-4 and PPT 2-5.
In describing the individual instruments it is helpful for the students understanding of the market to
integrate discussion of institutional characteristics of the instruments. For example, commercial banks
are the major participants for many of the instruments. If students have adequate backgrounds from
prerequisite classes, discussion of characteristics of marketability, liquidity and default risk may be
appropriate. Discussion of the concepts should be delayed to later chapters if student’s backgrounds are
not adequate.
PPT 2-4 and PPT 2-5 Money Market Instruments
Different rates for various money market instruments are show in PPT 2-6, PPT 2-7, and PPT 2-8. PPT
2-9 can be used to show how markets react to risks and crises. CD rates are higher relative to Treasury
Bills when risk is higher.
PPT 2-6 Figure 2-1 Money Rates
2-1
PPT 2-7 Table 2.2 Components of the Money Market
PPT 2-8 Figure 2-2 Treasury Bills
PPT 2-9 Figure 2-3 Spreads on CDs and Treasury Bills
2. The Bond Market
Debt instruments are issued by both public and private entities. The Treasury and Agency issues have
the direct or implied guaranty of the federal government. Since state and local entities issue municipal
bonds, performance on these bonds does not have the same degree of safety. Since the interest income
on municipal bonds is not subject to federal taxes, the taxable equivalent yield is used for comparison.
PPT 2-11 Bond Market
Key characteristics of the Treasury Notes and Bonds are described in PPT 2-12 and PPT 2-13.
PPT 2-12 Treasury Notes and Bonds
PPT 2-13 Figure 2-4 Treasury Notes and Bonds
Debt of federal agencies has become a very significant component of the debt market. Major issuers of
agency debt are displayed in PPT 2-14.
PPT 2-14 Federal Agency Debt
Municipal bonds issued by state and local governments can be general obligation bonds or revenue
bonds. General obligation bonds are considered less risky since they are backed by the full taxing power
of the government entity. Revenue from specific projects are dedicated to revenue bonds.
PPT 2-15 Municipal Bonds
PPT 2-16 Figure 2.5 Outstanding Tax-exempt Debt
Interest income on most municipal bonds is not subject to taxes. To compare the yield on municipals
with other taxable securities the taxable equivalent yield is used.
PPT 2-17 Municipal Bond Yields
PPT 2-18 Table 2.3 Equivalent Taxable Yields
PPT 2-19 Figure 2.6 Ratio of Yields on Tax-exempts to Taxables, 1955-2006
Bonds issued by private corporations are subject to greater default risk than bonds issued by government
entities. Corporate bonds often contain imbedded options such as the call feature which allows an
existing corporation to repurchase the bond from issuers when rates have fallen.
PPT 2-20 Corporate Bonds
PPT 2-21 Figure 2.7 Investment Grade Bond Listings
2-2
Bonds backed by mortgages have grown to compose a major element of the bond market. Such bonds
can represent proportional shares of a pool of mortgages or specific portion of a pool of mortgages. The
mortgage backed market has grown rapidly in recent years
PPT 2-22 Mortgages and Mortgage-backed Securities
PPT 2-23 Figure 2.8 Mortgage-Backed Securities Outstanding
Two key points are relevant in the discussion of equity instruments. First, the issue of common stock
owners having a residual claim to the earnings of the firm should be emphasized. The priorities of debt
holders and preferred stockholders are contrasted with common shareholders. Second, the differences in
preferred stock and common stock dividends should be emphasized. Preferred shareholders have a
priority claim to income in the form of dividends. Ordinary preferred stockholders are limited to the
fixed dividend while common shareholders do not have limits. The partial tax exemption on dividends
of one corporation being received by another corporation is important in discussing preferred stock.
PPT 2-25 Equity Markets
PPT 2-26 Figure 2.9 Stock Market Listings
4. Stock Indexes
The uses of stock indexes provide a good starting point for the discussion of the structure and
construction of stock indexes. Motivational factors include tracking average returns, making comparisons
of managers’ performance to average performance and, increasingly, indexes are used as a base for
derivative instruments.
PPT 2-28 Stock Market Indexes
Discussion of the factors in constructing or using an index focuses the students' attention on key
differences in the indexes. The issue of weighting structures for indexes is described in PPT 2-29 to PPT
2-33. The major factor to contrast in the discussion is whether the index is price weighted or market
value weighted. The third possibility is equal weighting. While this method is not too commonly
observed in published indexes, it is commonly used in research. This concept is important in describing
results of empirical examinations on market efficiency in later chapters.
PPT 2-29 Factors for Construction of Stock Indexes
PPT 2-30 Table 2.4 Data to Construct Stock Price Indexes
PPT 2-31 DJIA Price-Weighted Average
PPT 2-32 S&P’s 500 Market Value-Weighted Index
PPT 2-33 Value Line Equally Weighted Index
2-3
The examples of domestic indexes displayed in PPT 2-34 shows their diversity. The Wilshire, being the
broadest of the indexes, captures the overall domestic market. The DJIA captures the returns from the
bluest of blue chips. The sample of domestic indexes also fit well with discussion of uses of the index.
If the index will be used to assess the performance of a manager that invests in Small-Cap firms, the
DJIA would not be as appropriate a benchmark as the NASDAQ Composite.
PPT 2-34 Examples of Other Indexes – Domestic
PPT 2-35 Figure 2.10 Comparative Performance of Several Stock Market Indexes
The international indexes in PPT 2-36 represent indexes that have popular appeal. They include only a
small example of what it available but they are representative of the major types of indexes and major
countries. The text has several examples of greater detail in several exhibits.
PPT 2-36 Examples of Indexes - International
PPT 2-37 Table 2.6 Sample of MSCI Stock Indexes
5. Derivative Securities
Basic positions and terms for options and futures are described in PPT 2-39. The basic positions and
terms are used to contrast the essential differences in the futures and options. The essential difference is
related to the right but not the requirement to exercise the option while the futures contract represents a
firm commitment to buy or sell for future delivery. The text provides discussion of options for
individual stocks and on agricultural futures contracts. The extension to discussion of other assets
enhances understanding of the uses and differences of options and futures. The boxed item entitled
“Understanding the World of Derivatives” presents a good format for class discussion.
PPT 2-39 Derivatives Securities
2-4