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Participants in financial markets II.

More on financial players.

Examine roles of banks, market makers, custodians, and regulators.

Investment Banks 

Investment banks help corporations and other entities raise capital, typically through underwriting new debt and equity securities. 

Underwriting involves purchasing securities from the issuer and selling them to investors, assuming the risk of distribution. 

They also provide advisory services for mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and strategic transactions. 

By guiding companies through financial markets, they evaluate growth opportunities and manage financial risks in major business endeavors.

Market Makers 

Market makers are specialized participants who provide liquidity to the markets by continuously offering to buy and sell securities at publicly quoted prices. 

They profit from the bid-ask spread, the difference between the buying and selling price. 

By being ready to trade at any time, market makers ensure that other investors can always buy or sell securities, thus reducing the time it takes to complete a trade and helping to stabilize prices in the market.

Emma Experiences Market Liquidity 

As Emma monitors her investments, she decides to sell some shares to diversify her portfolio. She places a sell order through her brokerage platform. 

Thanks to market makers who continuously provide buy and sell quotations, her order is executed almost instantly at a fair market price. 

Emma is impressed by how quickly she can liquidate her position without significantly affecting the stock's price. 

This experience underscores the importance of market makers in providing liquidity.

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Role of Regulators 

Regulators are governmental or independent agencies responsible for overseeing financial markets and ensuring they operate fairly and transparently. 

Key regulators like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) enforce rules that aim to protect investors, prevent fraud, and maintain orderly markets. 

Their role is upholding market integrity, fostering investor confidence, and ensuring markets function efficiently and fairly.

Corporate Issuers 

At the source of many securities are corporate issuers. 

These companies raise capital by issuing stocks and bonds. 

By selling equity, they attract investors who become part-owners, sharing in profits and risks. 

Bonds are debt instruments where the company agrees to repay borrowed money with interest. Issuing securities allows corporations to fund operations, expansion, and innovation. 

Their performance significantly influences market trends and economic growth.

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