Securities are fungible, negotiable financial instruments that represent a type of monetary value. A security can represent ownership position in a corporation (stocks), a creditor relationship with a governmental body or corporation (bonds), or rights to ownership such as those represented by an option agreement.
Broad categories include:
– Debt securities (banknotes, bonds and debentures)
– Equity securities (common stocks)
– Derivatives (forwards, futures, options, and swaps)