What is Share Market?

Understanding Share Market

Before diving into the details of how the share market works, let’s discuss what the share market is. The share market is the place where buyers and sellers trade publicly listed shares at specific times of the day.  When you buy a share, you are purchasing fractional ownership of a company. For example, if you purchased 10 shares of ABC company for ₹200 each, then you are an ABC shareholder. This allows you to sell ABC shares at any time.

You invest money in the company when you buy shares. Your share price will increase as the company grows.

You can make a profit by selling the shares in the market. Investing in shares can finance dreams such as higher education, a car, a house, etc. Share prices are affected by several factors. Prices can rise and fall at times. However, a long-term investment will negate the price drop.

A lot of people confuse 'share market' with 'stock market'. However, while the former allows you to trade only shares, the latter enables you to trade a variety of financial instruments, such as bonds, derivatives, and forex.

The stock market meaning refers to this organized exchange system that enables capital flow, reflects economic health, and helps investors earn returns based on company performance and market trends will conclude what is stock market.

Stock Market Basics

To operate, every business needs money. Occasionally, the proceeds from the sale of products or services are insufficient to cover the costs of working capital. Therefore, in order for businesses to function effectively, they ask regular people like you and me to invest in them. In exchange, investors receive a cut of whatever profits the businesses produce.

Knowing this is the first step to learning the fundamentals of the stock market. Let's study this in further depth.
 

Types of Share Markets

Share market definition is incomplete without mentioning the two types of stock markets:

● Primary Share Markets: A company enters the primary market when it registers at the stock exchange for the first time to raise funds through shares. A company's shares are then open for trading within market participants after an Initial Public Offering (IPO).

● Secondary Market:  A company's securities qualify for trade on the secondary market upon selling its new securities on the primary market. Shares are traded among investors at the prevailing market price. Brokers and other intermediaries can facilitate these transactions for investors.
 

Why invest in the share market?

By the share market definition, the primary motive of investing in share market is to ensure every individual meets their future financial goals. A rise in inflation makes it insufficient for people to earn & save. To deal with price increases because of inflation, investments are imperative. The share market is a popular investment avenue due to the following reasons:

• Offers high liquidity to investors as average volumes are high
•  Various financial instruments like mutual funds, bonds, shares, derivatives, and more
•  Ownership offers investors the right to vote besides their contribution in the business’s strategic movement
•  Investors can enjoy high returns In shorter time frames
•  The trades are executed on the digital platform that offers the most convincing opportunities for investors

So, the share market investments offer several advantages. However, investors should always be cautious. In simple words, gaining an insightful understanding gives you a foundation to start investing in this market.

What is a stock exchange?

In simple words, a stock exchange is a forum where stocks, bonds, and derivatives (or other securities) are traded and purchased. A stock exchange platform trades different financial instruments. It simplifies the process of selling or buying shares and securities. The Securities & Exchange Board of India, or SEBI, regulates these activities. According to share market meaning, the primary stock exchanges are BSE and NSE. But according to SEBI, there are a total of seven recognised exchanges in India.
 

How does the Share Market work?

In Short explanation of how stock market works:
 

• An order is placed.
• The broker transmits the details of the order to the exchange.
• Exchanges look for confirmation from sellers.
• To confirm the order, the exchange informs the broker.
• Money is exchanged when trading takes place. 

Shareholders will own shares of a company in hopes of rising share values or receiving dividend payments. Stock exchanges facilitate this capital-raising process and receive fees from companies and financial partners for their services. Besides buying and selling securities on the stock exchanges, investors can also trade securities they already own.

To Elaborate the Process:

To raise funds or capital, companies list themselves on the secondary or primary market. A company needs to provide details about its business, financial status, and IPO (initial public offering). 
Investors can trade stocks once they are listed on the secondary market. This is where most trading takes place. Traders and buyers conduct transactions in this market to make a profit or cut losses. People turn to stock brokers to extend the coverage of the fund, as there are thousands of investors. Upon receiving the order, they send it to the exchange. After finding a seller, the exchange sends a confirmation to the broker, who finally debits/credits your account.

The price of shares changes as trades are conducted. As with any other good, shares are priced according to their perceived value. Consequently, the stock's demand rises or falls. There are more buy orders as the stock's demand increases. As a result, the stock price increases.

How to Invest In The Share Market? 

Let’s learn about the share market investing process:

Investing in the Primary Share Market

Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) are used to invest in the primary share market. A company counts and allots shares based on demand and availability after receiving investor applications for an IPO.

Investing in the Secondary Share Market 

Step 1: Open a Demat and trading account

To invest in the secondary market, you need to start with a Demat and a trading account. To facilitate seamless transactions, both accounts should be linked to a preexisting bank account. 

Step 2: Select the shares

Select shares you wish to sell or buy from your online trading account. To purchase those shares, you must have the necessary funds in your account.

Step 3: Select the price point

Decide what price you want to pay for the share you wish to purchase or sell. Let the buyer or seller respond to your request. 

Step 4: Complete the transaction 

After the transaction, you either receive shares or money for your stocks. 

You should pay attention to the time you remain invested, as they depend on the financial goals you wish to accomplish.

What Are the Functions of a Share Market?

Now that you know what the share market is, let’s discuss the functions of a share market:

1. Extending marketability and liquidity to existing securities: The stock market provides a ready and continuous marketplace for buying and selling securities. As a result, buyers and sellers can sell and buy shares on the platform.

2. Pricing of securities: By analyzing demand and supply, stock markets help put a value on securities and provide instant information to both buyers and sellers. 

3. Safety of transaction: A stock exchange requires all participants to follow legal frameworks governed by the regulator and to comply with all regulations. Transactions are secure with such a system. SEBI regulates all trading in India. 

4. Spreading of equity culture: Listed companies have extensive information on the stock exchanges that the public can access. As a result of this data, the public can learn more about securities investments, leading spreading of greater ownership of the shares.

5. Regulation and motivation of companies: A company that wishes to list its shares on a stock exchange must follow certain rules and regulations. For instance, every year they should submit all relevant financial data to a stock exchange. As a result, listing companies will carefully monitor their financial performance to protect their interests. This way, stock exchanges incentivize companies to improve their financial performance.

Advantages of Stock Market

Now that you understand what a share market is, let's examine some of its benefits:

1. Path for Growth: Long-term, consistent financial growth is produced by selling company shares. Businesses may use these profits to expand and prosper.
2. Ease of Entry and Exit: You may enter and exit the stock market easily by purchasing and selling shares of any firm at a price that is set by the supply and demand for that specific share.
3. Monitored & Regulated Processes: Listed companies are subject to stringent disclosure requirements and regulatory limitations imposed by stock exchanges and market authorities, providing investors with a safe haven. Stockbrokers who adhere to SEBI's guidelines are not left behind.
4.Safe Clearing Process: Stock exchanges provide investors buying stocks that will be transferred to their Demat Accounts of a trustworthy and safe clearing process.
 

What Is Traded On the Share Market?

The stock exchange trades four types of financial instruments. These include

Shares

An equity share represents ownership of a company. Dividends are distributed to shareholders whenever a company earns profits. Additionally, shareholders bear the company's losses.

Bonds

It takes substantial capital for a company to undertake long-term and profitable projects. Bonds are one way to raise capital. This bond represents the company's "loan". In the form of coupons, the bondholders receive interest payments from the company on a timely basis.

Mutual Funds

The purpose of mutual funds is to pool the money of a large number of investors so that the collective capital can be invested in a wide variety of financial instruments. Various financial instruments are available as mutual funds, including equity, debt, and hybrid funds. 

Mutual fund schemes issue units with a certain value, similar to shares. You become a unit-holder in such funds when you invest in them. 

Derivatives

A derivative security is an investment avenue that derives its value from the underlying security. Derivatives include shares, bonds, currencies, commodities, and more. A derivatives contract is an agreement in which the buyer and seller have differing expectations of the price of an asset and, therefore, enter into a "betting contract" regarding its price.

ETF

An Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is similar to a mutual fund scheme that is created to track and mirror the performance of stock market indices such as Sensex, NIFTY 50, NIFTY Bank, NIFTY Next 50 etc. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are considered passively managed funds as the portfolio managers do not try to outperform but mirror the performance of the underlying stock market index.

Conclusion

In today’s era, investing in the share market is one of the rewarding ways to generate wealth. But you need to follow a strategic investment tactic to accomplish long-term financial goals.