What are the functions of a Stock Exchange?
What are the functions of a Stock Exchange?
Stock Exchange refers to a market where buying and selling of the existing securities take place. The following are the main functions of a stock exchange.
(i) Provides Liquidity and Marketability: Stock exchange provides a ready platform for trading of existing securities. In other words, it provides a continuous market for the sale and purchase of securities. Through stock exchange, securities can be easily converted into cash whenever required. In addition, long-term securities can be converted to medium-term and short-term through stock exchange.
(ii) Determination of Prices: A stock exchange helps in establishing the price of the monetary assets that are traded in that market. It provides a platform for interaction for buyers and sellers of securities and thereby, helps in the determination of prices of the securities through the forces of demand and supply.
(iii) Fair and Safe Market: As stock exchange is a legal and well regulated market. It trades within the defined and the existing legal framework. Thereby, it ensures safety and fairness in transactions.
(iv) Facilitates Economic Growth: In a Stock Exchange the securities are continuously brought and sold. This continuous process of disinvestment and reinvestment helps in channelising the savings and the investments to the most productive use. This, enhances capital formation and economic growth.
(v) Spreading Equity Cult: Through regulation of the issues and better trading practices, a stock exchange helps in educating the people about investment. It promotes and encourages the people to invest in ownership securities.
(vi) Acts as an Economic Barometer: Through changes in the share prices, a stock exchange indicates the changes in economic conditions. For instance, a boom (or recession) is reflected in the rise (or fall) in the share prices.
(vii) Scope for Speculation: It is generally believed that certain degree of speculation is necessary for better liquidity and to maintain demand and supply of securities. Stock exchange provides a reasonable and controlled scope of speculation within the provisions of law.
Stock Exchange refers to a market where buying and selling of the existing securities take place. The following are the main functions of a stock exchange.
(i) Provides Liquidity and Marketability: Stock exchange provides a ready platform for trading of existing securities. In other words, it provides a continuous market for the sale and purchase of securities. Through stock exchange, securities can be easily converted into cash whenever required. In addition, long-term securities can be converted to medium-term and short-term through stock exchange.
(ii) Determination of Prices: A stock exchange helps in establishing the price of the monetary assets that are traded in that market. It provides a platform for interaction for buyers and sellers of securities and thereby, helps in the determination of prices of the securities through the forces of demand and supply.
(iii) Fair and Safe Market: As stock exchange is a legal and well regulated market. It trades within the defined and the existing legal framework. Thereby, it ensures safety and fairness in transactions.
(iv) Facilitates Economic Growth: In a Stock Exchange the securities are continuously brought and sold. This continuous process of disinvestment and reinvestment helps in channelising the savings and the investments to the most productive use. This, enhances capital formation and economic growth.
(v) Spreading Equity Cult: Through regulation of the issues and better trading practices, a stock exchange helps in educating the people about investment. It promotes and encourages the people to invest in ownership securities.
(vi) Acts as an Economic Barometer: Through changes in the share prices, a stock exchange indicates the changes in economic conditions. For instance, a boom (or recession) is reflected in the rise (or fall) in the share prices.
(vii) Scope for Speculation: It is generally believed that certain degree of speculation is necessary for better liquidity and to maintain demand and supply of securities. Stock exchange provides a reasonable and controlled scope of speculation within the provisions of law.
