How share market works

The share market, also known as the stock market, is a complex financial system where investors buy and sell ownership stakes (shares or stocks) in publicly traded companies. Here’s an overview of how the share market works:

1. Issuance of Shares: When a company decides to go public, it issues shares to raise capital. This initial public offering (IPO) is the first time shares of the company are made available to the public. Investors, including individuals and institutions, can purchase these shares through the IPO.
2. Listing on Stock Exchanges: After an IPO, the company’s shares are typically listed on stock exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ, London Stock Exchange, and others. These exchanges provide a centralized marketplace where buyers and sellers can trade shares.
3. Secondary Market Trading: Once shares are listed on an exchange, they can be bought and sold in the secondary market, which is where most stock market activity occurs. This trading takes place among investors, with no direct involvement of the company. Buyers and sellers can place orders to buy or sell shares at agreed-upon prices.
4. Stock Exchange Operations: Stock exchanges facilitate trading by matching buy and sell orders. They operate during specific trading hours, and each exchange has its own set of rules and regulations to ensure fair and transparent trading.
5. Order Types: Investors can use various types of orders to specify how they want their trades executed. Common order types include market orders (buy or sell at the current market price) and limit orders (buy or sell at a specified price or better).
6. Price Determination: Prices in the secondary market are determined by supply and demand dynamics. When demand for a particular stock is high, its price tends to rise, and when demand is low, its price tends to fall.
7. Market Participants: The secondary market involves a variety of participants:
   • Retail Investors: Individual investors who buy and sell stocks through brokerage accounts.
   • Institutional Investors: Large organizations like mutual funds, pension funds, and hedge funds that manage substantial portfolios and trade on behalf of their clients.
   • Market Makers: Financial institutions that facilitate trading by providing liquidity, buying and selling stocks on their own account to maintain orderly markets.
8. Regulation: Stock markets are regulated by government authorities and securities exchanges to ensure fairness, transparency, and market integrity. Regulatory bodies oversee market participants and enforce rules to protect investors.
9. Information Availability: Information about publicly traded companies, including financial statements, earnings reports, and news, is widely available to investors. Transparency is crucial for informed decision-making.
10. Risk and Reward: Stock market investing carries inherent risks, as share prices can fluctuate significantly. Investors aim to profit from price appreciation, dividends, or both.
11. Investor Strategies: Investors may employ various strategies, including long-term investing, value investing, growth investing, and day trading, depending on their goals and risk tolerance.
12. Dividends: Some companies distribute a portion of their profits to shareholders in the form of dividends. Investors may receive dividend payments as a source of income.

Overall, the stock market plays a vital role in allocating capital, allowing companies to raise funds, and providing investors with opportunities for wealth creation. It’s important for individuals interested in the stock market to understand the risks and benefits, conduct thorough research, and consider their financial goals and risk tolerance before participating in stock market trading.