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What is the distinction between money market and capital market?

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Question added by Nadjib RABAHI , Freelancer , My own account
Date Posted: 2016/08/26
Amr Lotfy
by Amr Lotfy , Senior Advisor , Keepers Advisory

Capital Market , the market where long term debt and equity securities issued and traded such as common stock, preferd stock, bond

Money market , the market where the short term debt securities such as commercial paper, bankers acceptence, issued and traded

Muhammad Borra
by Muhammad Borra , Senior Officer - Treasury , Gulf Investment House

Money Market - Short term credit needs of the business are fulfilled 

Capital Market -Long term credit needs of the business are fulfilled

Money Market - Time Period : Within a year 

Capital Market - Time Period : Over a year 

 

Money Market – Dealt through : Treasury Bills, Commercial Papers, Certificate of Deposit, Trade Credit etc.

 

Capital Market - Dealt through : Shares, Debentures, Bonds etc.

mohammed aldughesh
by mohammed aldughesh , Chairperson of cost department , King Fahad Medical City

Capital market : more than a year  Money market : les than a year

Syed Husseini
by Syed Husseini , Senior Officer EPO , Arab National Bank

Money market is where lending and borrowing of short term securities are done CM is where long term securities are issued and traded. MM instruments r TBills Commercial papers certificate of deposit trade credit etc CM instruments r shares debentures bonds retained earnings asset securitisation Euro issues etc MM low risk CM high risk MM. Time frame within a year CM Time frame more than a year MM increases liquidity of funds in the economy CM mobilisation of savings in the economy MM ROI less CM ROI high

SHAHZAD Yaqoob
by SHAHZAD Yaqoob , SENIOR ACCOUNTANT , ABDULLAH H AL SHUWAYER

financial market is a market that brings buyers and sellers together to trade in financial assets such as stocks, bonds, commodities, derivatives and currencies. The purpose of a financial market is to set prices for global trade, raise capital and transfer liquidity and risk. Although there are many components to a financial market, two of the most commonly used are money markets and capital markets.

Money markets are used for a short-term basis, usually for assets up to one year. Conversely, capital markets are used for long-term assets, which are any asset with maturity greater than one year. Capital markets include the equity (stock) market and debt (bond) market. Together the money and capital markets comprise a large portion of the financial market and are often used together to manage liquidity and risks for companies, governments and individuals.

Capital Markets

Capital markets are perhaps the most widely followed markets. Both the stock and bond markets are closely followed and their daily movements are analyzed as proxies for the general economic condition of the world markets. As a result, the institutions operating in capital markets - stock exchangescommercial banks and all types of corporations, including nonbank institutions such as insurance companies and mortgage banks - are carefully scrutinized.

The institutions operating in the capital markets access them to raise capital for long-term purposes, such as for a merger or acquisition, to expand a line of business or enter into a new business, or for other capital projects. Entities that are raising money for these long-term purposes come to one or more capital markets. In the bond market, companies may issue debt in the form of corporate bonds, while both local and federal governments may issue debt in the form of government bonds. Similarly, companies may decide to raise money by issuing equity on the stock market. Government entities are typically not publicly held and, therefore, do not usually issue equity. Companies and government entities that issue equity or debt are considered the sellers in these markets.

 

The buyers, or the investors, buy the stocks or bonds of the sellers and trade them. If the seller, or issuer, is placing the securities on the market for the first time, then the market is known as the primary market. Conversely, if the securities have already been issued and are now being traded among buyers, this is done on the secondary market. Sellers make money off the sale in the primary market, not in the secondary market, although they do have a stake in the outcome (pricing) of their securities in the secondary market.

The buyers of securities in the capital market tend to use funds that are targeted for longer-term investment. Capital markets are risky markets and are not usually used to invest short-term funds. Many investors access the capital markets to save for retirement or education, as long as the investors have long time horizons, which usually means they are young and are risk takers.

Money Market

The money market is often accessed alongside the capital markets. While investors are willing to take on more risk and have patience to invest in capital markets, money markets are a good place to "park" funds that are needed in a shorter time period - usually one year or less. The financial instruments used in capital markets include stocks and bonds, but the instruments used in the money markets include deposits, collateral loans, acceptances and bills of exchange. Institutions operating in money markets are central banks, commercial banks and acceptance houses, among others.

Money markets provide a variety of functions for either individual, corporate or government entities. Liquidity is often the main purpose for accessing money markets. When short-term debt is issued, it is often for the purpose of covering operating expenses or working capital for a company or government and not for capital improvements or large scale projects. Companies may want to invest funds overnight and look to the money market to accomplish this, or they may need to cover payroll and look to the money market to help. The money market plays a key role in ensuring companies and governments maintain the appropriate level of liquidity on a daily basis, without falling short and needing a more expensive loan or without holding excess funds and missing the opportunity of gaining interest on funds.

Investors, on the other hand, use the money markets to invest funds in a safe manner. Unlike capital markets, money markets are considered low risk; risk-adverse investors are willing to access them with the anticipation that liquidity is readily available. Older individuals living on a fixed income often use the money markets because of the safety associated with these types of investments.

 

The Bottom Line

There are both differences and similarities between capital and money markets. From the issuer or seller's standpoint, both markets provide a necessary business function: maintaining adequate levels of funding. The goal for which sellers access each market varies depending on their liquidity needs and time horizon. Similarly, investors or buyers have unique reasons for going to each market: Capital markets offer higher-risk investments, while money markets offer safer assets; money market returns are often low but steady, while capital markets offer higher returns. The magnitude of capital market returns is often a direct correlation to the level of risk, however that is not always the case.

Although markets are deemed efficient in the long run, short-term inefficiencies allow investors to capitalize on anomalies and reap higher rewards that may be out of proportion to the level of risk. Those anomalies are exactly what investors in capital markets try to uncover. Although money markets are considered safe, they have occasionally experienced negative returns. Inadvertent risk, although unusual, highlights the risks inherent in investing - whether long or short term, money markets or capital markets.

 

Difference Between Money Market and Capital Market

capital vs money market

Financial market can either be a Money Market where extremely liquid financial instruments are traded or a Capital Market where buying and selling in securities are done to raise long-term funds for the entity. These two terms are very complicated to understand, and that is why people use them interchangeably which is wrong. So come on, let’s first understand the meaning and difference between Money Market and Capital Market.

  Content: Money Market Vs Capital Market
  1. Comparison Chart
  2. Definition
  3. Key Differences
  4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

BASIS FOR COMPARISONMONEY MARKETCAPITAL MARKETMeaning A segment of the financial market where lending and borrowing of short term securities are done. A section of financial market where long term securities are issued and traded. Nature of Market Informal Formal Financial instruments Treasury Bills, Commercial Papers, Certificate of Deposit, Trade Credit etc. Shares, Debentures, Bonds, Retained Earnings, Asset Securitization, Euro Issues etc. Risk Factor Low Comparatively High Time Horizon Within a year More than a year Merit Increases liquidity of funds in the economy. Mobilization of Savings in the economy. Return on Investment Less Comparatively High  

Definition of Money Market

An unorganized arena of banks, financial institutions, bill brokers, money dealers, etc. where trading on short-term financial instruments is being concluded is known as Money Market. These markets are also known by the name wholesale market.

Trade Credit, Commercial Paper, Certificate of Deposit, Treasury Bills are some examples of the short-term debt instruments. They are highly liquid (cash equivalents) in nature, and that is why their redemption period is limited to one year. They provide a low return on investment, but they are quite safe trading instruments.

Money Market is a unsystematic market, and so the trading is done off the exchange, i.e. Over The Counter (OTC) between two parties by using phones, email, fax, online, etc. It plays a major role in the circulation of short-term funds in the economy. It helps the industries to fulfill their working capital requirement.

Definition of Capital Market

A type of financial market where the government or company securities are created and traded for the purpose of raising long-term finance to meet the capital requirement is known as Capital Market.

The securities which are traded includes stocks, bonds, debentures, euro issues, etc. whose maturity period is not limited up to one year or sometimes the securities are irredeemable (no maturity). The market plays a revolutionary role in circulating the capital in the economy between the suppliers of money and the users. The Capital Market works under full control of Securities and Exchange Board to protect the interest of the investors.

The Capital Market includes both dealer market and auction market. It is broadly divided into two major categories: Primary Market and Secondary Market.

  • Primary Market: A market where fresh securities are offered to the public for subscription is known as Primary Market.
  • Secondary Market: A market where already issued securities are traded among investors is known as Secondary Market.
Key Differences Between Money Market and Capital Market

The following are the major differences between money market and capital market

  1. The place where short-term marketable securities are traded is known as Money Market. Unlike Capital Market, where long-term securities are created and traded is known as Capital Market.
  2. Capital Market is well organized which Money Market lacks.
  3. The instruments traded in money market carry low risk, hence, they are safer investments, but capital market instruments carry high risk.
  4. The money market instruments are rich in liquidity. Conversely, the instruments of capital market are not that much liquid.
  5. Capital Market Instruments give higher returns as compared to money market instruments.
  6. Redemption of Money Market instruments is done within a year, but Capital Market instruments have a life of more than a year as well as some of them are perpetual in nature.

Conclusion

The main aim of the financial market is to channelize the money between parties in which Money Market and Capital Market helps by taking surplus money from the lenders and giving them to the borrower who needs it. Millions of transactions take place around the world on a daily basis.

Both of them work for the betterment of the world economy. They fulfill the long term and short term capital requirements of the individual, firms, corporate and government. They provide good returns which encourage investments.

 

Ihab Zaki
by Ihab Zaki , Chief Technology Officer (Cto) , EGID

Money market is for short term (up to one year) of low risk instruments like treasury bills, certificates of deposit While capital markets usually for long term (more than one year) and includes higher risk instruments like equities, securities.

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