Chapter 1 - Structure of Financial System
Chapter 1 - Structure of Financial System
Chapter 1 - Structure of Financial System
Learning Outline:
Unit Trusts
Structure of Malaysia Financial System
The financial system in Malaysia is structured into two major categories: financial
institutions and financial markets.
The financial markets in Malaysia comprise four (4) major markets namely; money and
foreign exchange markets, capital markets, derivatives market, and offshore market.
1.3 Financial Intermediation
Financial Intermediation by Financial
Institutions
Financial
Surplus Units Deficit units
Institutions
• Financial institutions are important to facilitate the movement of funds between two parties, surplus
units and deficit units.
• Surplus units are those who have extra cash or funds.
• While, deficit units are those who need funds.
• For example, commercial banks as intermediary receive deposits from depositors (surplus units).
• Using the deposits, the commercial banks gives loans to borrowers (deficit units).
• Hence, the commercial banks function as an intermediary between depositors and borrowers.
• The effort by the various financial institutions in meeting the requirements of depositors and
borrowers is called financial intermediation.
Financial Intermediation by Financial
Markets
Surplus Financial Deficit
Units Markets Units
• Financial markets are important to facilitate the movement of funds between two parties, surplus
units and deficit units.
• Surplus units are those who have extra cash or funds.
• While, deficit units are those who need funds.
• The units can be individuals, organizations or even government.
• Financial markets as intermediary inform the surplus units where to invest their extra money and to
inform the deficit units where they can obtain funds.
• An efficient financial markets allow investors (surplus unit) to make investment and to receive return
for their investments.
• An efficient financial markets also allow borrowers (deficit unit) to receive funds and use them for
the purpose of investing in capital assets.
1.4 Roles of Financial Institutions as
Intermediary
Roles of Financial Institutions as Intermediary
The roles of financial institutions in the financial system as an intermediary are as
follows:
The roles of financial markets in the financial system as an intermediary are as follows:
i. To provide a platform for market participants (deficit units and surplus units) to
mobilise funds more effectively according to specific needs.
ii. To have options for participants on types of markets that meet corporate vision
and goals.
iii. To provide options for supplier of funds to diversify the portfolio that meet
company objectives.
iv. To provide a well-protected fund movement system.
END OF
CHAPTER 1
Study Questions:
1. Ibrahim Abdul Rahman & Siti Norbaya Mohd Rashid, Financial Market and
Banking Operations.
2. Mohd Nizal Haniff, Norli Ali, Norashikim Ismail & Noreena Md Yusoff,
Introduction to Malaysian Financial Markets. McGraw-HIll, 2022, ISBN: 978-
967-0761-53-4.