1. What are the security functions of SEBI?
Ans.The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) plays a crucial role in ensuring the security and integrity of the securities market in India. Here are the security functions of SEBI elaborated point-wise:
1. **Regulation and Oversight:**
- SEBI formulates regulations to govern the securities market, ensuring compliance with legal frameworks.
- It oversees various participants in the market, including stock exchanges, brokers, and other intermediaries.
2. **Investor Protection:**
- SEBI works to safeguard the interests of investors by promoting fair and transparent practices.
- It ensures that investors receive accurate and timely information to make informed investment decisions.
3. **Prevention of Insider Trading:**
- SEBI prohibits insider trading, where individuals with privileged information about a company use it for personal gain in the stock market.
- It establishes and enforces rules to maintain a level playing field and prevent unfair advantages.
4. **Market Surveillance:**
- SEBI conducts market surveillance to detect and prevent market manipulation, fraud, and other malpractices.
- It employs technology and monitoring systems to track unusual trading patterns and activities.
5. **Enforcement of Securities Laws:**
- SEBI has the authority to investigate and take enforcement actions against entities violating securities laws.
- It imposes penalties and sanctions to deter fraudulent activities and ensure market integrity.
6. **Development of Market Infrastructure:**
- SEBI works towards enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of market infrastructure, including stock exchanges and clearing corporations.
- It encourages the adoption of advanced technologies for smoother market operations.
7. **Risk Management:**
- SEBI establishes risk management frameworks to minimize systemic risks in the securities market.
- It collaborates with market participants to implement measures for risk mitigation.
8. **Promotion of Fair Practices:**
- SEBI promotes fair competition and ethical practices among market participants.
- It sets guidelines for corporate governance, disclosure norms, and code of conduct to maintain market integrity.
9. **Education and Awareness:**
- SEBI conducts investor education programs to enhance financial literacy and awareness.
- It aims to empower investors with the knowledge needed to make sound investment decisions.
In summary, SEBI's security functions encompass a comprehensive range of activities aimed at maintaining the stability, fairness, and integrity of the securities market in India.
2. Briefly discuss the various segments of national stock market.
Ans.1. **Equity Market:**
- Involves the buying and selling of company stocks.
- Companies raise capital by issuing shares, and investors trade these shares on the stock exchange.
2. **Debt Market:**
- Deals with fixed-income securities like bonds and debentures.
- Investors lend money to the government or corporations in exchange for periodic interest payments.
3. **Derivatives Market:**
- Involves financial contracts whose value is derived from an underlying asset.
- Includes options and futures, providing investors a way to hedge risk or speculate on future price movements.
4. **Commodity Market:**
- Focuses on trading commodities like gold, silver, agricultural products, and energy resources.
- Important for both producers and consumers to manage price volatility.
5. **Forex (Foreign Exchange) Market:**
- Involves trading national currencies against each other.
- Vital for international trade and investment, reflecting global economic conditions.
6. **Initial Public Offering (IPO) Market:**
- Companies issue shares to the public for the first time.
- Investors can buy shares directly from the company, allowing it to raise capital for expansion.
7. **Alternative Investment Market:**
- Includes various investment options beyond traditional stocks and bonds.
- Examples include real estate investment trusts (REITs) and venture capital.
8. **Spot Market:**
- Involves the immediate exchange of financial instruments or commodities for cash.
- Transactions occur "on the spot" and are settled instantly.
9. **Secondary Market:**
- Investors trade previously issued securities without the involvement of the issuing company.
- Enhances liquidity by providing a platform for buying and selling existing financial instruments.
10. **Indices Market:**
- Represents the overall performance of the stock market.
- Indices like the S&P 500 or Dow Jones Industrial Average track the value of a specific group of stocks.
Understanding these segments helps investors diversify their portfolios and manage risk effectively in the dynamic landscape of the national stock market.
3. What do you mean by financial market? Briefly explain the functioning of financial markets.
Ans. Here's a detailed explanation of the functioning of financial markets, presented in a point-wise manner:
1. **Definition of Financial Markets:**
- Financial markets are platforms that facilitate the buying and selling of various financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, and derivatives.
- These markets serve as intermediaries between those who have excess funds (investors) and those who need funds (companies, governments, etc.).
2. **Types of Financial Markets:**
- **Primary Markets:**
- New securities are issued in primary markets.
- Companies raise capital by issuing stocks or bonds to investors.
- **Secondary Markets:**
- Existing securities are traded among investors.
- Prices are determined by supply and demand dynamics.
3. ** - **Investors:**
- Individuals, institutional investors, and traders who buy and sell financial instruments for various purposes, including investment and speculation.
- **Financial Institutions:**
- Banks, brokerage firms, and other intermediaries that facilitate transactions and provide financial services.
4. **Functioning of Financial Markets:**
- **Price Determination:**
- Prices of financial instruments are determined by the interaction of supply and demand.
- Market participants analyze information and use various strategies to make investment decisions.
- **Information Flow:**
- Timely and accurate information is crucial for making informed investment decisions.
- Information is disseminated through news, financial reports, and other channels.
- **Market Regulation:**
- Governments and regulatory bodies establish rules and regulations to ensure fair practices and market integrity.
- Regulatory frameworks aim to prevent fraud, insider trading, and market manipulation.
5. **Financial Instruments:**
- **Stocks:**
- Represent ownership in a company.
- Shareholders may receive dividends and have voting rights.
- **Bonds:**
- Debt securities where investors lend money to issuers.
- Issuers pay periodic interest and return the principal at maturity.
- **Derivatives:**
- Financial contracts whose value derives from an underlying asset.
- Examples include options and futures.
6. **Market Efficiency:**
- Financial markets aim to be efficient, reflecting all available information in asset prices.
- Efficient markets contribute to the allocation of capital to its most productive uses.
7. **Global Nature:**
- Financial markets operate globally, with interconnectedness among different markets.
- Globalization allows investors to diversify their portfolios and access a wide range of investment opportunities.
8. **Economic Impact:**
- Financial markets play a crucial role in economic development by facilitating capital formation and investment.
- The health of financial markets is often considered a barometer of overall economic well-being.
In summary, financial markets serve as vital mechanisms for capital allocation, enabling economic growth and providing opportunities for investors to participate in various financial instruments. The interaction of participants, regulation, and the flow of information are fundamental aspects of their functioning.
4 .What is money market? State two characteristics of money market. Explain in brief about money market instruments
Ans.**Money Market:**
The money market refers to a financial market where short-term borrowing and lending take place among financial institutions and corporations. It deals with instruments that have high liquidity and short maturities, providing a platform for participants to manage their short-term funding needs.
**Characteristics of Money Market:**
1. **High Liquidity:** Money market instruments are highly liquid, allowing participants to quickly buy or sell them with minimal price impact. This liquidity is crucial for meeting short-term financial obligations.
2. **Short-Term Maturity:** Money market instruments have short maturities, usually ranging from overnight to one year. This characteristic makes them suitable for short-term funding and investment needs.
**Money Market Instruments:**
1. **Treasury Bills (T-Bills):** Short-term government securities with maturities ranging from a few days to one year. They are issued at a discount and redeemed at face value, representing the interest earned.
2. **Commercial Paper (CP):** Unsecured, short-term debt issued by corporations to meet immediate funding needs. CP typically has maturities ranging from 1 to 270 days and is issued at a discount.
3. **Certificates of Deposit (CDs):** Time deposits offered by banks with fixed maturities. Investors deposit a specific amount for a predetermined period, and upon maturity, they receive the principal along with interest.
4. **Repurchase Agreements (Repos):** Short-term collateralized loans where one party sells securities to another with an agreement to repurchase them at a later date. Repos are commonly used by financial institutions for short-term funding.
5. **Money Market Mutual Funds (MMMFs):** Mutual funds that invest in short-term, low-risk instruments like T-Bills and CP. They allow investors to participate in the money market with a relatively low investment amount.
6. **Commercial Bills:** Short-term debt instruments issued by businesses to meet their financing needs. Commercial bills are similar to T-Bills but are issued by private entities.
7. **Banker's Acceptance (BA):** A short-term debt instrument that is guaranteed by a bank. It is often used in international trade transactions, with the bank providing a payment guarantee.
In summary, the money market serves as a crucial component of the financial system, providing a platform for short-term borrowing and lending through various instruments characterized by high liquidity and short maturities