Investing in the stock market is a popular way for individuals to grow their wealth and to secure their financial futures. Before investing, it is important to first understand the different types of investment products and markets.
What is
Investment products are securities that can be bought and sold by investors. Common types of investment products include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), real estate, and options.
What is
Investment markets are the venues in which investors buy and sell securities. There are four main types of investment markets, including primary markets, secondary markets, over-the-counter markets, and exchange markets.
Stocks
Stocks are shares of ownership of a company that can be bought and sold on the stock market. There are two main types of stocks, common stock and preferred stock.
Common Stock
Common stock is the most common type of stock. When investors buy common stock, they become part owners of the company and are entitled to the company’s profits.
Preferred Stock
Preferred stock is a type of stock that gives investors a guaranteed dividend payment, but they do not have voting rights in the company.
Bonds
Bonds are debt securities issued by corporations or governments to borrow money. There are two main types of bonds, government bonds and corporate bonds.
Government Bonds
Government bonds are issued by governments to finance their operations. These bonds are typically considered to be low-risk investments, but they also offer low returns.
Corporate Bonds
Corporate bonds are issued by corporations to finance their operations. These bonds carry more risk than government bonds, but they also offer higher returns.
Mutual Funds
Mutual funds are investment vehicles that pool money from many investors to purchase a portfolio of stocks, bonds, and other investments. Mutual funds offer diversification and professional management, but they also have higher fees than other types of investments.
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are similar to mutual funds, but they trade like stocks on an exchange. ETFs offer diversification, low fees, and the ability to buy and sell quickly.
Real Estate
Real estate is a tangible asset that can be bought and sold on the market. Real estate can offer significant returns, but it also carries a higher level of risk.
Options
Options are contracts that give investors the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a security at a predetermined price. Options are a more complex type of investment, and they carry a high level of risk.
Primary Markets
Primary markets are where securities are first issued. Companies use primary markets to raise capital for their operations, and investors use them to make their initial investments.
Secondary Markets
Secondary markets are where investors buy and sell securities after they have been issued in the primary market. These markets are used to transfer ownership of securities from one investor to another.
Over-the-Counter Markets
Over-the-counter (OTC) markets are markets that are not regulated by a stock exchange. These markets are used to trade high-risk securities, such as penny stocks.
Exchange Markets
Exchange markets are regulated markets where stocks, bonds, options, and other securities are bought and sold. These markets offer greater liquidity and investor protection than OTC markets.
The most popular investment markets include the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Nasdaq, Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), London Stock Exchange (LSE), Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE), and Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE).
Investing in popular markets has several advantages. These markets are highly liquid, meaning that investors can buy and sell their investments quickly and easily. They also offer diversification, since investors can spread their investments across different markets. Popular markets also tend to have lower fees than OTC markets, and they provide investors with a variety of investment opportunities.
Investing in the stock market can be a great way to grow your wealth and secure your financial future. It is important to understand the different types of investment products and markets, and the advantages of investing in popular markets.
Investopedia. (2019, May 21). What Is a Primary Market? Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/primarymarket.asp
Investopedia. (2019, May 21). What Is a Secondary Market? Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/secondarymarket.asp
Investopedia. (2019, May 21). What Is an Over-the-Counter Market? Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/otc.asp
Investopedia. (2019, May 21). What Is an Exchange Market? Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/exchangemarket.asp
