The global financial markets are not just driven by the big investment houses and fund managers. Along with these, private banks, insurance houses, hedge funds, sovereign wealth funds and a range of boutique investment managers, regional institutions and brokers of different sizes and nationalities all operate and interact to form the bedrock of the global financial infrastructure. Because of this, it is essential that practitioners and observers of the markets fully understand the linkages, objectives and functions of these institutions, and the new and dynamic environment they are working in. Market Players provides a complete roadmap to the institutions and intermediaries operating in today's global financial landscape, illustrating what they are, how they work, how they interact and importantly, their motivation. It explains the core financial market business of these institutions and considers how they have become the firms that we see today, providing readers with a clear understanding of which market sectors are likely to see the most involvement from the different types of institution and, importantly, why they are involved in these market areas. Key features include: a series of case studies looking at examples of some of these institutions including an explanation of the EIB and the UK agency UKFI. They also look at the financial crisis and the impact on AIG and Northern Rock, two institutions that clearly illustrate what can go wrong and how the other market players have to step in when this happens. an international perspective looking at representative institutions from Europe, Asia and North America, showing global similarities and differences. a Post Financial Crisis perspective on the structure of international banks in today's markets. coverage of the major players on both the buy and sell side of the market Written in plain English, Market Players is an accessible and much needed guide to financial institutions, equipping readers with the knowledge to better understand how the global financial markets really work.

The global financial markets are not just driven by the biginvestment houses and fund managers. Along with these, privatebanks, insurance houses, hedge funds, sovereign wealth funds and arange of boutique investment managers, regional institutions andbrokers of different sizes and nationalities all operate andinteract to form the bedrock of the global financialinfrastructure. Because of this, it is essential that practitionersand observers of the markets fully understand the linkagesobjectives and functions of these institutions, and the new anddynamic environment they are working in.Market Players provides a complete roadmap to theinstitutions and intermediaries operating in today's globalfinancial landscape, illustrating what they are, how they work, howthey interact and importantly, their motivation. It explains thecore financial market business of these institutions and considershow they have become the firms that we see today, providing readerswith a clear understanding of which market sectors are likely tosee the most involvement from the different types of institutionand, importantly, why they are involved in these market areas.Key features include:* a series of case studies looking at examples of some of theseinstitutions including an explanation of the EIB and the UK agencyUKFI. They also look at the financial crisis and the impact on AIGand Northern Rock, two institutions that clearly illustrate whatcan go wrong and how the other market players have to step in whenthis happens.* an international perspective looking at representativeinstitutions from Europe, Asia and North America, showing globalsimilarities and differences.* a Post Financial Crisis perspective on the structure ofinternational banks in today's markets.* coverage of the major players on both the buy and sell side ofthe marketWritten in plain English, Market Players is an accessibleand much needed guide to financial institutions, equipping readerswith the knowledge to better understand how the global financialmarkets really work.

Acknowledgements.Introduction.PART I BANKS.1 Introduction.2 Commercial and Retail Banking.3 Investment Banking.4 Private Banking.5 Central Banks and Market Regulators.PART II INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS.6 Introduction.7 Banking in Europe.8 UK.9 France.10 Germany.11 USA.12 Japan.13 China.14 Islamic Finance Institutions.15 Microfinance Institutions.PART III QUASI-SOVEREIGNS AND SUPRANATIONAL AGENCIES.16 Introduction.17 Municipalities.18 Government Agencies.19 Supranational Agencies.PART IV INVESTMENT COMPANIES.20 Introduction.21 Basic Structure of Investment Management.22 Traditional Investment Managers.23 Hedge Funds.24 Insurance Companies.25 Sovereign Wealth Funds.PART V TRADITIONAL NON BANK INTERMEDIARIES.26 Introduction.27 Inter-Dealer Brokers.28 Agency Brokers.29 Venture Capital Companies.Conclusion.Appendix A The Financial Crisis - Six Months that ChangedInvestment Banking.Appendix B Northern Rock.Appendix C UK Financial Investments.Appendix D The European Investment Bank.Appendix E AIG.References.Index.