Final answer:
Financial markets channel money, allow risk management, provide liquidity and payment services, and offer valuable information.
Step-by-step explanation:
Financial Markets and their Functions
Financial markets play a crucial role in channeling money to individuals, businesses, and governments. They facilitate the transfer of savings from individuals who want to save for the future to those who need cash to spend today. Financial markets also allow investors to adjust their risk by offering various investment options like mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These investment vehicles help individuals spread their risk across a diversified portfolio of stocks.
Additionally, financial markets provide mechanisms for managing risks. For instance, commodity markets enable entities like farmers and bakers to reduce their exposure to price fluctuations by engaging in futures contracts. Furthermore, financial markets and intermediaries such as banks offer liquidity and payment services, allowing investors to convert their investments into cash when needed. Lastly, financial markets provide valuable information to participants. For example, potential bond issuers can assess prevailing market interest rates by examining yields on existing bonds.