:''"Primary market" may also refer to
a market in art valuation.''
The primary market is the part of the
capital market
A capital market is a financial market in which long-term debt (over a year) or equity-backed securities are bought and sold, in contrast to a money market where short-term debt is bought and sold. Capital markets channel the wealth of save ...
that deals with the issuance and sale of
securities
A security is a tradable financial asset. The term commonly refers to any form of financial instrument
Financial instruments are monetary contracts
A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties that create ...
to purchasers directly by the
issuer, with the issuer being paid the proceeds. A primary market means the market for new issues of securities, as distinguished from the
secondary market
The secondary market, also called the aftermarket and follow on public offering, is the financial market in which previously issued financial instruments such as stock
In finance, stock (also capital stock) consists of all the shares ...
, where previously issued securities are bought and sold.
["Section 7.03.120 - Definitions; Primary Market"](_blank)
/ref> "A market is primary if the proceeds of sales go to the issuer of the securities sold." Buyers buy securities that were not previously traded.
Concept
In a primary market, companies, governments, or public sector institutions can raise funds through bond issues, and corporations can raise capital through the sale of new stock
In finance, stock (also capital stock) consists of all the shares by which ownership of a corporation or company is divided.Longman Business English Dictionary: "stock - ''especially AmE'' one of the shares into which ownership of a compan ...
through an initial public offering
An initial public offering (IPO) or stock launch is a public offering in which shares of a company are sold to institutional investors and usually also to retail (individual) investors. An IPO is typically underwritten by one or more investm ...
(IPO). This is often done through an investment bank or underwriter
Underwriting (UW) services are provided by some large financial institution
Financial institutions, sometimes called banking institutions, are business entities that provide services as intermediaries for different types of financial moneta ...
or finance syndicate of securities dealers. The process of selling new shares to buyers is called underwriting
Underwriting (UW) services are provided by some large financial institutions, such as banks, insurance companies and investment houses, whereby they guarantee payment in case of damage or financial loss and accept the financial risk for liabil ...
. Dealers earn a commission that is commonly built into the price of the security offering, though it can be found in the prospectus.
IPOs are not the only way new securities are issued. Publicly traded companies can issue new shares in what is called a ''primary issue'' of debt or stock, which involves the issue by a corporation of its own debt or new stock directly to buyers like pension funds, or to private investors and shareholders.[''Fundamentals of Corporate Finance'', McGraw Hill, 2001]
Since the securities are issued directly by the company to its buyers, the company receives the money and issues new security certificates to the buyers. The primary market plays the crucial function of facilitating capital formation within the economy. The securities issued at the primary market can be issued in ''face value'', ''premium value,'' or ''at par value
Par value, in finance and accounting, means stated value or face value
The face value, sometimes called nominal value, is the value of a coin, bond, stamp or paper money as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the issuing authorit ...
.''
Primary markets create long-term instruments through which corporate entities raise funds from the capital market. It is also known as the New Issue Market (NIM).
Once issued, the securities typically trade thereafter on a secondary market
The secondary market, also called the aftermarket and follow on public offering, is the financial market in which previously issued financial instruments such as stock
In finance, stock (also capital stock) consists of all the shares ...
such as a stock exchange
A stock exchange, securities exchange, or bourse is an exchange where stockbrokers and traders can buy and sell securities, such as shares
In financial markets, a share is a unit of equity ownership in the capital stock of a corpora ...
, bond market
The bond market (also debt market or credit market) is a financial market where participants can issue new debt
Debt is an obligation that requires one party, the debtor, to pay money or other agreed-upon value to another party, the c ...
, or derivatives exchange.
Raising funds
Corporate entities raise funds from the primary market in three ways:
# Public issue - a stock exchange lists the securities, and the corporation raises funds through initial public offering (IPO).
# Rights issue - existing shareholders are offered more shares at a discounted price and on a ''pro rata'' basis.
# Preferential allotment - a corporation issues shares at a price which may or may not be related to the current market price of the same security.
See also
*Secondary market
The secondary market, also called the aftermarket and follow on public offering, is the financial market in which previously issued financial instruments such as stock
In finance, stock (also capital stock) consists of all the shares ...
* Third market
* Fourth market
References
Financial markets
{{Econ-stub