Benefits and Types of Equity Markets

Benefits and Types of Equity Markets

What is an equity market, also known as the stock market or the share market, it is a financial marketplace where stocks, or ownership shares in companies, are bought and sold. Companies issue stocks to raise capital, which investors can purchase in the hopes of earning a return on their investment through dividends or capital gains.

Now let’s understand what the equity market is with regard to the Indian landscape.

What is the Equity Market in India?

The equity market in India, also known as the Indian stock market or the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE), is a crucial component of the country's financial system. It is a platform for buying and selling shares of companies listed on the exchanges, with the aim of generating returns on investment through capital gains & dividends.

The Indian equity market is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). SEBI oversees the functioning of the stock exchanges, ensures fair practices, and protects the interests of investors. Generally, the market is open for trading from Monday to Friday, between morning 9:15 am to afternoon 3:30 pm as per Indian time.

How is the Equity Market in India?

Over the years, India's equity market has made a substantial contribution to the nation's economic expansion. With regard to market capitalization, trading volume, and the number of listed businesses, the Indian stock market has experienced substantial expansion.

With a wide variety of firms listed on the exchanges, the Indian equities market provides investors with a wide choice of investment opportunities. The Indian equities market offers investors the opportunity to participate in businesses of various sizes and industries because it offers large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks.

Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs), who are now permitted to engage in the Indian equities market, have also increased their participation in the market. The market now has more liquidity and depth as a result of this.

The Indian equity market is, nonetheless, susceptible to market risks including volatility and uncertainty, just like nearly every other equity market. Economic expansion, geopolitical developments, and business profits are just a few of the variables that affect how well the Indian equity market performs. 

Investors should therefore carefully assess market trends and have a long-term perspective while making investments in the Indian equity market. It is wise to have professional guidance and make investments based on one's financial objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

What is 'Growth' in the Equity Market?

Growth is the capability of an organization's revenues to rise above-average rates over time in the equity market. The profits growth rate of a company, which is the pace at which its revenues are anticipated to rise over a specific period, is often used to assess this growth potential.

Growth stock enthusiasts search for businesses with high rates of earnings growth because they believe these businesses will offer above-average returns over the long term. These businesses frequently put a large amount of their revenues back into the company to support chances for expansion like R&D, entering fresh markets, or acquiring rival businesses.

Growth stocks sometimes have high price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios because investors are prepared to pay more for the possibility of rising future earnings. As their prices are frequently based on projections of growth in the future rather than on current profitability, these companies may be volatile.

For investors looking for long-term capital gain, making an investment in growth stocks may serve as a strategy. Growth stocks can be dangerous, though, as the growth prospects might not materialize or market volatility might have an impact on the stock price. 

Therefore, before purchasing growth stocks, investors must do in-depth research, analysis, and consideration of their risk appetite and investment goals.

How do Equity Markets Work in India?

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) & the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) are India's two principal stock exchanges, as we already know. Here is a quick explanation of how India's equity markets operate:

Organization’s list on the stock exchange

Companies must initially list on the stock exchange in order to raise funds by selling shares to the general public. To ensure impartiality and transparency, they must adhere to the rules established by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Investors buy & sell shares

Brokers serve as a bridge between investors & the stock exchange, allowing investors to buy & sell shares of companies that are listed on the stock exchange. Brokers and online trading platforms allow investors to place buy and sell orders.

Price discovery is conducted through demand & supply 

The forces of supply and demand determine the value of shares on the stock exchange. A stock's price increases when more individuals want to purchase it and drops when more individuals want to sell it.

There are common trading hours

Generally, the market is open for trading from Monday to Friday, between morning 9:15 am to afternoon 3:30 pm as per Indian time.

Types of orders to be placed

On the stock exchange, investors can submit a variety of orders, including market, limit, and stop-loss orders. Investors can establish the precise prices at which they intend to buy or sell shares using these orders.

Indices pertaining to the stock market

Stock market indices like the Nifty 50 & the BSE Sensex are used to gauge the performance of the Indian equities market. These indices give a comprehensive picture of the market while tracking the trajectory of a selection of stocks.

Before making an investment decision, traders in the Indian equity market should perform careful study and analysis. In order to manage risks, they ought to have a long-term investing vision and a diversified portfolio.

Benefits and Types of Equity Markets in India

In India, there are two primary types of equity markets:

Primary market

The primary market is also known as the "new issue market." It is where companies issue new securities to the public for the first time through initial public offerings (IPOs), follow-on public offerings (FPOs), and rights issues. Investors can participate in the primary market by buying these newly issued securities directly from the company.

Secondary market

The secondary market is also known as the "stock market." It is where existing securities are bought and sold among investors after they have been issued in the primary market. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) are the two major stock exchanges in India.

Now let’s look at a few benefits of each of these markets.

Benefits of Primary Equity Markets in India

The benefits of primary markets are as follows:

• Provides platforms for firms to raise funds

Companies can raise cash by offering new shares to the public on the primary market. Then, this money can be used for business growth, development, and other activities.

• Offer a great amount of transparency

Businesses that list on the primary market are required to make public their financial accounts and other pertinent data. This encourages openness and enables investors to make wise choices.

• There’s a good amount of liquidity

Investors have a ready market to buy and sell assets in primary markets. By doing this, the market's liquidity increases and investors' ability to get in and exit is simplified.

• It offers fair pricing & transparent mechanism

The cost of securities is determined fairly and openly in the primary market. Pricing is determined by market supply and demand, which guarantees that the security's price reflects its genuine value.

• There are various investment opportunities

Investors have the chance to make investments in emerging and potential businesses through the primary market. Compared to investing in mature businesses that have already peaked, this may offer a higher potential return.

Now let’s understand the benefits of the secondary equity markets in India.

Benefits of Secondary Equity Markets in India

The benefits of secondary markets are as follows:

• Offers a good amount of liquidity

Secondary markets provide liquidity to investors by allowing them to buy and sell securities easily. This makes it easier for investors to adjust their portfolios and for companies to raise additional capital through follow-on offerings.

• Price discovery platform is available 

Secondary markets offer a setting for price exploration. Prices are established based on supply and demand for the securities, which demonstrates how much the market values the corporation.

• Offers a good amount of transparency

The secondary market provides transparency as all transactions are recorded and made publicly available. This allows investors to make informed decisions based on the market's movements and overall sentiment.

• Risk Management

Investors can control risk, diversify their portfolios, and hedge their positions on the secondary market. This may lessen the total risk of equities market investing.

FAQs on the benefits and types of Equity Markets in India

What is the Equity Market in India?

The equity market in India, also known as the Indian stock market or the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE), is a crucial component of the country's financial system.

What is 'Growth' in the Equity Market?

Growth is the capability of an organization's revenues to rise above-average rates over time in the equity market.

What are the benefits and types of Equity Markets in India?

There are mainly two types of markets; primary market & secondary market. They both offer a great amount of transparency and investment opportunities for investors trading the listed company's shares.