Financial asset

A financial asset is an asset whose value is dependent on the obligation of another person or entity.

IAS 32 defines a financial asset as an asset that is any of the following:

1. Cash; or

2. An equity instrument of another entity; or

3. A contractual right to:

• Receive cash or another financial asset from another entity; or
• Exchange financial assets or financial liabilities with another entity under conditions that are potentially favourable to the reporting entity; or

4. A contract that will or may be settled in the reporting entity's own equity instruments and is either:

• A non-derivative for which the entity is or may be obliged to receive a variable number of the entity's own equity instruments; or
• A derivative that will or may be settled other than by the exchange of a fixed amount of cash or another financial asset for a fixed number of the entity's own equity instruments.

See also

• Amortised cost
• Assets
• Financial instrument
• Financial liability
• IAS 32