The following is a chapter from The Professional Risk Managers' Guide to Financial Markets, which explains how financial risk management takes place in the context of the world's major financial markets: the money market, bonds, futures, commodities, stock, and foreign exchange. The reference begins with rigorous introduction to the world of financial markets, discussing the importance of liquidity, comparing exchanges to alternative markets, the role of technology, effects of post-trade processing, and new financial markets. Each chapter then goes on to deliver in-depth coverage of specific markets from a leading expert in the field.