Introduction -- Why study financial markets and institutions? -- Overview of the financial system -- Fundamentals of financial markets -- What do interest rates mean and what is their role in valuation? -- Why do interest rates change? -- How do risk and term structure affect interest rates? -- Are financial markets efficient? -- Fundamentals of financial institutions -- Why do financial institutions exist? -- Why do financial crises occur and why are they so damaging to the economy? -- Central banking and the conduct of monetary policy -- Central banks and the federal reserve system -- Conduct of monetary policy: tools, goals, strategy, and tactics -- Financial markets -- The money markets -- The bond market -- The stock market -- The mortgage markets -- The foreign exchange market -- The international financial system -- The financial institutions industry -- Banking and the management of financial institutions -- Financial regulation -- Banking industry: structure and competition -- The mutual fund industry -- Insurance companies and pension funds -- Investment banks, security brokers and dealers, and venture capital firms -- The management of financial institutions -- Risk management in financial institutions -- Hedging with financial derivatives.