Capital Market and Money Market: The capital market and the money market are two of the most important sub-systems of the financial system, playing an important role in the overall functioning of the economy. While both markets deal with the flow of money, they serve different purposes and cater to different participants. It is equally essential for anyone who thinks about finance and investing or doing economic work to understand the nature, features, and distinguishing characteristics between these two markets.
The capital market is a financial market where long-term securities like stocks, bonds, and debentures are sold. Companies, governments, and institutions use the capital market to obtain finance for their long-term investments, such as developing infrastructure, expanding businesses, and financing corporations.
Stocks (Equities): These are portions of ownership in a company that gives investors the right to some profits (dividends).
Bonds (Debt Securities): Funds loaned by investors to borrowers in the form of corporations or governments, which promise periodic interest payments and return of principal at maturity.
Primary Market: New issues of securities to be sold to investors for the first time (e.g., initial public offerings).
Secondary Market: Transfer of existing securities among investors (e.g., stock exchanges such as the NYSE, and NASDAQ).
The money market is a financial market segment that deals with the short-term financial instrument whose maturity falls below one year. In its role, this market provides governments, banks, and corporations with liquidity enabling the parties to meet short-term financing needs.
Treasury Bills (T-Bills): These are government securities sold for short periods of time as tools to meet urgent cash needs.
Certificates of Deposit (CDs): Bearer certificates issued by banks on time deposits at specific rates and terms.
Commercial Paper: Short-term unsecured promissory notes issued by companies for direct financing of their working capital requirements.
Repurchase Agreements (Repos): Loan whereby a security is sold with an undertaking to repurchase the security at a later date at a higher price.
Criteria | Capital Market | Money Market |
Purpose | Long-term financing (more than 1 year) | Short-term financing (less than 1 year) |
Instruments | Stocks, bonds, debentures | Treasury bills, commercial paper, CDs, reports |
Risk | Higher risk due to longer duration | Lower risk due to short duration |
Returns | Potentially higher returns | Lower returns due to lower risk |
Participants | Both institutional and individual investors | Primarily institutional investors |
Maturity | Long-term instruments | Short-term instruments |
Liquidity | Less liquid compared to money markets | Highly liquid |
The capital market is a financial market where long-term securities such as stocks, bonds, and debentures are bought and sold.
The money market is a segment of the financial market where short-term borrowing, lending, and trading of securities take place, typically with maturities of one year or less.
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