Complexities of the U.S. Financial System

Briefly describe one (1) way the U.S. financial markets impact the economy, one (1) way the U.S. financial markets impact businesses, and one (1) way the U.S. financial markets impact individuals.

Companies sell stock to raise money. Once a stock begins trading in the secondary market, its change in price has no direct effect on the company that issued it. Regardless of the wavering of the stock price, the issuer would still have the money raised to fund their company. Without a doubt, every company wants to see their stock prices rise. Despite mixed opinions, there is a strong positive relationship between financial market development and economic growth. The markets help to efficiently direct the flow of savings and investment in the economy. Credit-rating agencies are known to be influenced by stock prices, and their decisions have a large effect on the availability of credit to the firm. Regulators, who take actions that affect firm cash flows (most prominently, in the case of banks), follow market prices very close.
Business owners with good ideas are constrained by the amount of capital they can raise. Although they can use their own money and borrow from their family and friends, these are limited sources of capital. Eventually, as they desire to grow their companies or reach their potential, they have seek to fund-growth using other people’s money. They can borrow from fellow citizens under a contractual obligation to pay them back with interest, or they could make these citizens co-owners, with a promise to share all the ups and downs of ownership. Hence, stockholders of their company. Similarly, employees and customers may base their decisions on whether to work for a firm or buy its products on information they collect from the market.”

Briefly explain the primary roles of the U.S. Federal Reserve, the