What is Commercial Paper?
Financial Instruments
Written by Jason Gordon
Updated at December 1st, 2020
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What is Commercial Paper?
Commercial paper is a broad categorization of financial instruments (also referred to as an instrument) promising to pay or ordering payment to a person legally entitled to enforce the instrument. Because it has value for the individual in possession or holding the instrument, it is used as a substitute to money in commercial transactions.
Example: A check is commercial paper that orders a third party to pay money. A promissory note is another form of commercial paper that evidences a loan and outlines the duty of the maker of the note to make payment to the holder of the note.
Next Article: Types of Commercial Paper Back to: COMMERCIAL PAPER
Discussion: Why do you think it is necessary for commercial paper to entail an unconditional right to be paid? How is commercial paper different from a contract?