Finance is a broad subject that deals with the management of money and other assets to achieve desired goals.

It is a critical element of any business, as it provides the means to acquire and manage resources efficiently. The three major areas of finance are corporate finance, investments, and financial markets. 

Corporate finance is the area of finance that involves the management of a company’s financial resources in order to maximize shareholder value. It is concerned with the sources of funds, the allocation of funds, and the use of funds in order to maximize returns. Corporate finance involves the identification of sources of funds, the assessment of risks associated with investments, and the allocation of funds for the most profitable activities. 

Investments involve the purchase and sale of different types of securities and other financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and derivatives. This area of finance is concerned with the analysis and evaluation of investments to determine their risk, return, liquidity, and other characteristics. Investment decisions are based on the analysis of financial statements, economic indicators, and other relevant information.

Financial markets are the markets in which financial instruments are traded. These markets provide liquidity to investors and facilitate the transfer of risk from one party to another. The most common financial markets are the stock market, bond market, foreign exchange market, and derivatives market. Financial markets enable investors to buy and sell financial assets and to transfer risk from one party to another. 

These three major areas of finance are essential for any business to operate and grow. An understanding of corporate finance, investments, and financial markets is required for businesses to make informed decisions and maximize their returns.