Financial economics

Financial economics is the branch of economics studying the interrelation of financial variables, s.a. prices, interest rates and shares as opposed to those concerning the real economy. Financial economics concentrates on influences of real economic variables on financial ones, in contrast to pure finance.

It studies:

• Valuation - Determination of the fair value of an asset
  o How risky is the asset? (identification of the asset appropriate discount rate)
  o What cash flows will it produce? (discounting of relevant cash flows)
  o How does the market price compare to similar assets? (relative valuation)
  o Are the cash flows dependent on some other asset or event? (derivatives, contingent claim valuation)
• Financial markets and instruments
  o Commodities
  o Stocks
  o Bonds
  o Money market instruments
  o Derivatives
• Financial institutions and regulation