means the circulation of funds. It includes all economic operations directly related to the currency, the credit, and the circulation of money, for example, the issuance and withdrawal of currency, collecting deposits and granting loans, buying and selling of gold and silver, foreign exchange, and negotiable securities. Besides, the businesses of insurance, trust and investment, payments of the balance of the domestic and international trade are also within the scope of finance. 金融就是资金融通，它包括与货币、信用、货币流通、货币的发行与回笼、吸收存款与发放贷款、金银的买卖、外汇及有价证券等有直接关系的一切经济活动。此外，保险业、信托投资、国内及国际贸易的支付结算等也属金融的范畴。 The most important financial institutions are the banks, the stock exchange, the trust and investment companies and the insurance corporations. 银行、股票交易所、信托投资公司、保险公司等是最重要的金融机构。