This popular textbook offers a broad and accessible introduction to the building blocks of modern finance: financial markets, institutions and instruments. Focussing on the core elements of the subject, the author blends theory with real-life data, cases and numerical worked examples, linking the material to practice at just the right level of technical complexity. This new edition has updated data and cases throughout, ensuring that it is as up-to-date as possible in this fast-moving area. More assessment and self-test resources have been added to the book to help support students and lecturers.It is ideally suited to students at all levels who take economics, business and finance courses, as well as for those who want to understand the workings of the modern financial world.