Capital Market
The capital market is a financial market where long-term securities are bought and sold. These securities include stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments with maturities of more than one year.
Instruments of the Capital Market ;
1. Stocks : Represent ownership in a company and give shareholders a claim on a portion of its assets and profits.
2. Bonds : Represent debt obligations issued by companies or governments to raise capital. Bondholders receive regular interest payments and their principal back at maturity.
3. Debentures : Unsecured bonds issued by companies to raise capital. They are backed by the company's creditworthiness rather than collateral.
4. Preference Shares : A type of share that has a higher claim on assets and dividends than ordinary shares.
5. Mutual Funds : Investment vehicles that pool money from many investors to invest in a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and other securities.
6. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) : Listed investment funds that track a particular index, sector, or asset class.
7. Derivatives : Financial contracts that derive their value from an underlying asset, such as options, futures, and swaps.
Functions of the Capital Market ;
1. Mobilization of Savings : The capital market provides a platform for individuals and institutions to invest their savings in various securities.
2. Allocation of Resources : The capital market helps allocate resources to their most productive uses by channeling funds to companies and projects with the highest potential returns.
3. Risk Management : The capital market provides various instruments, such as derivatives, to help investors manage their risk exposure.
4. Price Discovery : The capital market facilitates price discovery, where the prices of securities are determined by the interactions of buyers and sellers.
5. Liquidity Provision : The capital market provides liquidity to investors, enabling them to buy and sell securities quickly and at a fair price.
Benefits of the Capital Market ;
1. Economic Growth : The capital market plays a crucial role in promoting economic growth by providing access to capital for companies and projects.
2. Job Creation : The capital market helps create jobs by facilitating the growth and expansion of companies.
3. Wealth Creation : The capital market provides opportunities for individuals and institutions to create wealth by investing in various securities.
4. Diversification : The capital market offers a wide range of securities, enabling investors to diversify their portfolios and manage their risk exposure.
5. Transparency and Accountability : The capital market promotes transparency and accountability by requiring companies to disclose their financial information and adhere to strict regulations.
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