Important Information

When you’re trading stocks and other securities, it’s important to understand the two different types of markets: primary and secondary. The primary market is where new securities are issued and sold for the first time. The secondary market is where investors trade securities that have already been issued. In this Certus Trading Review we’ll discuss the differences between these two markets, and how they can impact your investment decisions.

The first thing to understand is that the primary market is where new securities are issued and sold for the first time. This is typically done through an initial public offering (IPO), in which a company sells shares of its stock to the public for the first time. The IPO process can be quite complex, and there are a number of different players involved, from investment banks to underwriters to lawyers. But ultimately, the goal of an IPO is to raise capital for a company so that it can grow and expand its business.

The secondary market is where investors trade securities that have already been issued. This includes both stocks and bonds. The most common venue for secondary market trading is an exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or Nasdaq. On an exchange, buyers and sellers come together to trade securities using a set of rules that are designed to provide fairness and transparency.

There are a few key differences between the primary and secondary markets. First, in the primary market, the issuer (i.e., the company) sets the price of the security, whereas in the secondary market, buyers and sellers determine the price through negotiation. Second, trading in the primary market is often more restricted than trading in the secondary market. For example, when a company goes public through an IPO, there may be a “lock-up period” during which insiders (such as employees or early investors) are not allowed to sell their shares.