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The Indian stock market is regulated by the Stock Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The SEBI has the responsibility of regulating the stock exchanges, its development, and protecting the rights of the investors. This means when investors invest in financial products on the stock market, their interests are well-protected by a regulatory framework. This significantly helps in reducing risks due to fraudulent activities of companies.
Technical development has influenced every aspect of modern living. The stock exchanges are also using various technical advancements to provide greater convenience to the investors. The trades are all executed on an electronic platform to ensure the best investment opportunities to investors in an open environment. In addition, broking service providers offer online share trading facilities that make investing convenient, because investors can place their orders through a computer from the comfort of their homes or offices. The demat account makes it easier for investors to hold all the products within their investment portfolio electronically in a single location, which makes it easier to track and monitor the performance.
Although stock investing has several benefits, investors must also be cautious while making their decisions. Understanding the stock market basics and doing their research before investing is advisable to mitigate risks and maximize returns.
Buying shares of stock means taking on an ownership stake in the company you purchase stock in. This means that investing in the stock market also brings benefits that are part of being one of a business’s owners. Shareholders vote on corporate board members and certain business decisions. They also receive annual reports to learn more about the company. Owning stock in the company you work for can be a way to express loyalty and tie your personal finances to the success of the business as a whole.
For investors who put money into different types of investment products, a stock market investment has the benefit of providing diversification. Stock market investments change value independently of other types of investments, such as bonds and real estate. Holding stock can help you weather losses to other investment products. Stock also adds risk to a portfolio, as well as the potential for large, rapid gains, helping investors avoid risk-averse or overly conservative investment strategies.
One of the primary benefits of investing in the stock market is the chance to grow your money. Over time, the stock market tends to rise in value, though the prices of individual stocks rise and fall daily. Investments in stable companies that are able to grow tend to make profits for investors. Likewise, investing in many different stocks will help build your wealth by leveraging growth in different sectors of the economy, resulting in a profit even if some of your individual stocks lose value.
The stock market allows you to sell your stock at any time. Economists use the term “liquid” to mean that you can turn your shares into cash quickly and with low transaction costs. That’s important if you suddenly need your money. Since prices are volatile, you run the risk of being forced to take a loss.
Most investors intend to buy low and then sell high. They invest in fast-growing companies that appreciate in value. That’s attractive to both day traders and buy-and-hold investors. The first group hopes to take advantage of short-term trends, while the latter expect to see the company’s earnings and stock price grow over time. They both believe that their stock-picking skills allow them to outperform the market. Other investors prefer a regular stream of cash. They purchase stocks of companies that pay dividends. Those companies grow at a moderate rate.
The stock market makes it easy to buy shares of companies. You can purchase them through a broker or a financial planner, or online. Once you’ve set up an account, you can buy stocks in minutes. Some online brokers, such as Robinhood, let you buy and sell stocks commission-free.
Historically, stocks have averaged an annualized return of 10%. That’s better than the average annualized inflation rate. It does mean you must have a longer time horizon, however. That way, you can buy and hold even if the value temporarily drops.
As the economy grows, so do corporate earnings. That’s because economic growth creates jobs, which creates income, which creates sales. The fatter the paycheck, the greater the boost to consumer demand, which drives more revenues into companies’ cash registers. It helps to understand the phases of the business cycle—expansion, peak, contraction, and trough.