Financial Instrument - Definition, What is Financial Instrument, Advantages of Financial Instrument, and Latest News - ClearTax (2024)

Introduction

A financial instrument is defined as a contract between individuals/parties that holds a monetary value. They can either be created, traded, settled, or modified as per the involved parties' requirement. In simple words, any asset which holds capital and can be traded in the market is referred to as a financial instrument.

Some examples of financial instruments are cheques, shares, stocks, bonds, futures, and options contracts.

Understanding Financial Instruments

Financial instruments can be primarily classified into two types - derivative instruments and cash instruments.

Derivative instruments can be defined as instruments whose characteristics and value can be derived from its underlying entities such as interest rates, indices or assets, among others. The value of such instruments can be obtained from the performance of the underlying component. Also, they can be linked to other securities such as bonds and shares/stocks.

Cash instruments, on the other hand, are defined as instruments which can be transferred and valued readily in the market. Some of the most common examples of cash instruments are deposits and loans where the lenders and borrowers are required to be agreed upon.

Other Classifications

Financial instruments can also be classified based on the asset class, i.e. equity-based and debt-based financial instruments.

Equity-based financial instruments include securities, such as stocks/shares. Also, exchange-traded derivatives, such as equity futures and stock options, fall under the same category.

Debt-based financial instruments, on the other hand, consist of short-term securities, such as commercial paper (CP) and treasury bills (T-bills) which have a maturity period of one year or less.

Cash instruments such as certificates of deposits (CDs) also fall under this category. On the same lines, exchange-traded derivatives, such as short-term interest rate futures fall under this category.

Since the maturity period on long-term debt-based financial instruments exceeds a year, securities such as bonds fall under the category. Exchange-traded derivates include bond futures, and options are the other examples.

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CONTENTS

  • Introduction
  • Understanding Financial Instruments
  • Other Classifications
Financial Instrument - Definition, What is Financial Instrument, Advantages of Financial Instrument, and Latest News - ClearTax (2024)

FAQs

Financial Instrument - Definition, What is Financial Instrument, Advantages of Financial Instrument, and Latest News - ClearTax? ›

A financial instrument is defined as a contract between individuals/parties that holds a monetary value. They can either be created, traded, settled, or modified as per the involved parties' requirement.

What are the advantages of financial instruments? ›

For example, businesses can use financial instruments to hedge against currency risks in the future. Because equity shares give companies a viable choice for borrowing and allow them to take advantage of retained earnings, equity-based instruments are a reliable source of funding for enterprises.

What is the meaning of financial instrument? ›

A financial instrument refers to any type of asset that can be traded by investors, whether it's a tangible entity like property or a debt contract. Financial instruments can also involve packages of capital used in investment, rather than a single asset.

What is the most important financial instrument? ›

The two most prominent financial instruments are equities and bonds. Equities (or shares) are the ownership of a portion of a company, which can then be traded. The value of this portion may fluctuate depending on the company's performance and market conditions, making equities a potentially risky investment.

What is the new financial instrument? ›

New financial instruments such as floating rate bonds, zero interest bonds, deep discount bonds, revolving underwriting finance facility, auction rated debentures, secured premium notes with detachable warrants, non-convertible debentures with detachable equity warrants, secured zero interest partly convertible ...

What is the main purpose of a financial instrument? ›

Most types of financial instruments provide efficient flow and transfer of capital throughout the world's investors. These assets can be in the form of cash, a contractual right to deliver or receive cash or another type of financial instrument, or evidence of one's ownership in some entity.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of equity instruments? ›

The most important benefit of equity financing is that the money does not need to be repaid. However, the cost of equity is often higher than the cost of debt.

What are the three main categories of financial instruments? ›

Basic examples of financial instruments are cheques, bonds, securities. There are typically three types of financial instruments: cash instruments, derivative instruments, and foreign exchange instruments.

What is a basic financial instrument? ›

The most common basic financial instruments are cash, trade debtors, trade creditors and most bank loans. For a debt instrument (receivable or payable) to be basic, returns to the holder must be: •a fixed amount; •a positive fixed rate or a positive variable rate; or.

What is the legal definition of a financial instrument? ›

A financial instrument is an instrument that has monetary value or records a monetary transaction or any contract that imposes on one party a financial liability and represents to the other a financial asset or equity instrument. Stock, bonds, and options contracts are some examples of financial instruments.

Which is the best financial instrument? ›

Here Are A Few Low-Risk Investment Options
  • Money Market Funds. Money Market Funds are short-term debt funds. ...
  • Municipal Bond. A Municipal Bond or Muni-Bond is a debt instrument issued by municipal corporations or associated bodies in India. ...
  • Certificate of Deposit. ...
  • Treasury Bills.
Feb 16, 2024

Which is the most secure financial instrument? ›

Safe assets are those that allow investors to preserve capital without a high risk of potential losses. Such assets include treasuries, CDs, money market funds, and annuities. There is, of course, a risk-return tradeoff, such that safer assets typically offer comparatively lower expected returns.

How do I choose a financial instrument? ›

Choosing the right financial instrument involves assessing risk, purpose, and understanding its attributes for effective trading. Best Financial Instruments for Trading: For trading, financial instruments like Forex and stock CFDs are popular. They offer potential short-term gains.

What is a financial instrument in simple terms? ›

A financial instrument is defined as a contract between individuals/parties that holds a monetary value. They can either be created, traded, settled, or modified as per the involved parties' requirement.

What are the most traded financial instruments? ›

Most Active Instruments
  • All.
  • Forex.
  • Indices.
  • Commodities.
  • Stocks.
  • Bonds.
  • ETFs.

Which is not classified as a financial instrument? ›

The following are examples of items that are not financial instruments: intangible assets, inventories, right-of-use assets, prepaid expenses, deferred revenue, warranty obligations (IAS 32. AG10-AG11), and gold (IFRS 9.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of money market instruments? ›

Money market instruments are a great low-risk investment option for investors looking for safety and liquidity. However, the lack of long-term capital appreciation makes them an unsuitable option for all kinds of investors.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of financial investing? ›

Investing in stocks offers the potential for substantial returns, income through dividends and portfolio diversification. However, it also comes with risks, including market volatility, tax bills as well as the need for time and expertise.

What is the advantage of financial services? ›

Financial services help put money to productive use. Instead of stashing money under their mattresses, consumers can give their savings to intermediaries who might invest them in the next great technology or allow someone to buy a house.

What are the advantages of using financial performance measures? ›

Companies can use financial performance analysis to communicate complex financial information understandably to stakeholders. This can help build trust and confidence in the company's financial management and decision-making.

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