In India, share markets are broadly classified into Primary Markets and Secondary Markets. Let us understand the difference between the two.

Primary market is also called the IPO market. Here companies issue shares so as to get listed in the stock market. Primary market raise money through New Offers (fresh issue of shares) or through offer-for-sale (existing shareholders selling their shares)

Secondary market is where listed shares are traded. Once the IPO is completed, shares normally get listed within a period of 10 days. Once the listing is done, then the shares start trading in the secondary markets.

Why do people invest in share markets?

There are 3 reasons people invest in the share markets in India. Here we are referring to the secondary markets in particular.

People invest so that these share values can appreciate and give good returns in the long run. For example an amount of Rs.1 lakh invested in Havells in 1996 would be worth Rs.32 crore today. That is potential to create value that share markets have.

People also invest in share markets to participate in the growth of the Indian economy over a period of time. Unlike bonds, these shares do not assure any returns. But over longer periods of 10-12 years they give above index returns.

People also invest in shares markets for the sake of dividends that are paid out by these companies from their profits. This is also called dividend yield investing.

What is stock exchange?

Stock exchange is a platform for investing in shares. You buy and sell shares in the stock exchange. In the old days you had to go to the ring and execute traders. However, today you can trade on both the stock exchanges (NSE and BSE) using an online trading platform by sitting on your computer. You can also trade using your mobile app. A little more about the 2 stock exchanges in India

Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) is more than 125 years old and was the first stock exchange in Asia. Today the BSE trades more than 6000 stocks and you can trade equities, currencies, equity futures, index futures, equity options and index options on the BSE platform.

National Stock Exchange (NSE) was set up in 1994 but has become the largest stock exchange in India in terms of volumes. While NSE has much lesser number of shares listed, they were the pioneers in using technology for stock trading. Investors and traders can choose to trade on the BSE or even on the NSE as per their choice and liquidity available.

How does the share market work?

The share market plays 3 important roles to help the investors and the brokers. Brokers are your intermediaries for trading in the share markets. Here are the 3 critical functions that share markets actually perform in India.

Share markets bring buyers and sellers together. When both the buyer and the seller place their orders on the stock exchange, the stock market gives best execution to both. For buyers, execution is at lowest available price and for seller it is done at highest available price.

Stock markets clear trades which is one of the most important functions. Stock exchanges have their own clearing corporations to clear trades which connect with brokers to ensure that credits, debits, delivery are all handled properly.

Stock exchanges manage risk. They impose margins on traders to ensure that no undue risk is taken in the markets. More importantly, stock exchanges (through their clearing corporations) guarantee the trades. Effectively, for every trade, the stock exchanges are the counter party. Therefore, when you deal in stock markets, there is no counterparty risk.

Is stock market different from share market?

Stock markets are share markets are one and the same. In India they were always referred to as the share market. Stock market is a US term where they refer to equity as stocks rather than as shares. Both stocks and shares represent a share of the company ownership.

Basics of Capital Market

Open an Account

Share Market Basics

How to start investing in the share market

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