Describing the various financial sectors in clear and easy-to-understand terms, this book reflects the fact that the world is moving towards a single global market and provides a broad and balanced introduction to financial markets across the world. These include the impact of September 11th and the relative collapse of the world stock markets; new capital ratios for banks; current retail banking developments; the results of the latest world FX survey; the problems faced by the European Economic Union; attempts to reform Lloyd's of London and a review of current trends. foreign exchange, money and bond markets, trade finance, stock markets and options, futures and other derivatives, this book provides a primer for those who require a basic understanding or are new to the world of finance.