What is the role of financial intermediaries in financial markets?

Financial intermediaries play a crucial role in financial markets by acting as a link between investors and borrowers. They help to channelize funds from savers to borrowers and facilitate financial transactions such as loans, investments, and insurance.

Examples of financial intermediaries include banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, pension funds, and stockbrokers. These intermediaries provide various services such as savings and checking accounts, loans, investment opportunities, and insurance policies to their clients.

Financial intermediaries also play a role in managing risk by diversifying their portfolio and creating a pool of assets that reduces individual risk. They also help to provide liquidity to the financial markets by creating a secondary market where securities can be traded. This provides investors with an opportunity to buy and sell securities, which increases the efficiency of the market. Overall, financial intermediaries help to create a more efficient financial market by facilitating the flow of funds and reducing risk for investors.