Le caratteristiche generali degli strumenti finanziari

[Autom. eng. transl.] This chapter describes the main types of financial instruments present in the Italian market: debt securities, equity securities, derivative instruments as well as those through which savings management activity is carried out. The analysis of debt securities will focus on the main morphological instruments, including the interest rate, duration and methods of extinction. As regards the examination of equity securities, this takes place through the description of the characteristics of ordinary shares followed by that of the peculiar characteristics of the other categories of shares. This is followed by the description of the general features of derivative instruments which takes place starting from their classification according to the obligations assumed by the contracting parties and according to the markets in which they are traded: in particular, the basic elements of futures and options will be recalled. The chapter concludes with an initial examination of managed savings products through the identification of their main types and introducing the basic concepts of portfolio management. The more detailed analysis also supported by the problems of evaluating these instruments will then take place in the subsequent parts of this volume, each of which is specifically dedicated.