Financial Instruments: Definition & Examples (2024)

FAQs

What are the financial instruments and examples? ›

Common examples of financial instruments include stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, real estate investment trusts (REITs), bonds, derivatives contracts (such as options, futures, and swaps), checks, certificates of deposit (CDs), bank deposits, and loans.

What Is a Financial Instrument? International Accounting Standards (IAS) gives the definition of a financial instrument as such: a contract that results in one entity having a financial asset and another entity having a financial liability or an equity instrument.

There are typically three types of financial instruments: cash instruments, derivative instruments, and foreign exchange instruments.

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.

Money markets include markets for such instruments as bank accounts, including term certificates of deposit; interbank loans (loans between banks); money market mutual funds; commercial paper; Treasury bills; and securities lending and repurchase agreements (repos).

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. B. 1).

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.

Financial instruments are either cash or derivative instruments. The price of cash instruments is determined by market supply and demand. These include shares, bonds and currencies. The price of derivative instruments is determined by the price of other instruments.

An instrument is a means by which something of value is transferred, held, or accomplished. In the field of finance, an instrument is a tradable asset, or a negotiable item, such as a security, commodity, derivative, or index, or any item that underlies a derivative.

Financial instruments are classified as financial assets or as other financial instruments. Financial assets are financial claims (e.g., currency, deposits, and securities) that have demonstrable value.

What is the difference between a financial product and a financial instrument? ›

An instrument generally refers to something (a bond, stock, derivative, letter of credit, travelers cheque) that can be bought or sold or at least transferred. A financial product is generally an account (checking, brokerage, loan, card) or a service provided to the bank's customer.

Cash, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and bank deposits are all are examples of financial assets. Unlike land, property, commodities, or other tangible physical assets, financial assets do not necessarily have inherent physical worth or even a physical form.

The term “financial instruments” covers both financial assets and financial liabilities, from straightforward cash to embedded derivatives. For example, all trade receivables, payables, bank loans, inter-company balances and debts and shares in another entity fall within the scope of this standard.

Financial instruments are assets that can be traded or used for investment purposes. It can be broadly categorized into Equity-based (stocks, representing ownership in a company) and Debt-based (bonds, loans, representing a loan made by an investor to a borrower) securities.

Cash, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and bank deposits are all are examples of financial assets. Unlike land, property, commodities, or other tangible physical assets, financial assets do not necessarily have inherent physical worth or even a physical form.