rahoitusmarkkinasäädökset

Rahoitusmarkkinat (financial markets) are the networks and venues where borrowers and lenders meet to raise and allocate capital through the trade of financial instruments. They enable price discovery, liquidity, and risk management, allowing savers to fund investment and issuers to raise funds efficiently.

Markets are commonly divided into money markets and capital markets. Money markets handle short-term debt instruments such as Treasuries and commercial paper, providing liquidity for institutions. Capital markets deal with longer-term debt and equity securities, including bonds and stocks. Derivatives, such as futures and options, are traded to hedge or speculate on future price movements. Trading may occur on formal exchanges or over-the-counter networks, and is supported by clearing and settlement systems to reduce counterparty risk. Primary markets issue new securities, while secondary markets trade existing ones.

Participants include households, corporations, financial institutions, governments, and central banks. The functions of rahoitusmarkkinat include mobilizing savings, allocating capital to productive uses, dispersing and transferring risk, and providing liquidity and price signals that guide economic decisions.

Regulation and oversight focus on market integrity, investor protection, and financial stability. National regulators oversee firms and markets, while EU frameworks such as MiFID II, EMIR, and MAR shape conduct, transparency, and risk management across member states. Market infrastructure typically comprises exchanges, clearinghouses, and central securities depositories.

Rahoitusmarkkinat are global and highly interconnected; developments in one region can affect others. Technological advances have increased access and speed but also underscored systemic risk and the need for robust oversight.