How Stock Market Affects Economy
If you have ever wondered if the stock market would play a part in the economy. You are surely right on that thought, and it takes a big part. You might hear people saying the stock market has done this to the economy of our country, the stock market has done to the economy of our country and so much more, are they just saying that or is it real? Is it true? Let's find out here.
To know all of this, firstly, we need to be strong on our basics, so get prepared for a little bit of brushing up on older concepts.
Why is there a Stock Market in the First Place?
You mostly know this. A stock is a kind of security that represents an individual's ownership of a company, and a stock market is a place where an investor or trader can buy and sell ownership of assets. It is also important for economic growth. It allows a business to raise capital through funds from the public, pay off debts, or even expand the business. It basically exists for two main reasons, and they are; to give a company the opportunity to raise capital that can be used to expand and grow the business. Just say the company issues one lakh shares that sell at 100 rupees each, the company raises 10 lakh rupees (this is just an example).
Secondly, the stock market gives investors the opportunity to earn a share in the profit of the company.
Now, you might have a hundred questions popping up. Okay, these are all the happening facts and mere statements, how do these things affect the economy. Let us take a look.
How does the Stock Market Affect the Economy?
You are aware that the prices of stocks rise and fall. This factor can influence various components of the economy. It can make an impression on the consumers as well as the business. This will, in turn, have a positive or negative impact on the economy as a whole. Different economical conditions also come into account for this to happen.
- Stock Market Movement
The fluctuations in individual stock values give the stock market a turbulent nature. Volatility in stock prices in indices like Nifty Next 50 may have a beneficial or negative influence on consumers and businesses. When there is a bull market or a rise in stock values, general confidence in the economy rises. People's spending rises as they grow more bullish about the market. More investors are also entering the market, which contributes to the country's economic progress.
When stock prices decline over an extended period of time, this is referred to be a bear market, and it has a negative impact on the economy. People are gloomy about the economy, and news headlines about decreasing stock prices may sometimes cause panic. Fewer investors enter the market, and consumers choose to invest in lower-risk assets, further depressing the economy's condition.
- Individual's Consumption
When there is a bull market, people are pretty confident with the market conditions. Their investments are termed to simultaneously increase. They are inclined towards spending more on expensive things like cars and houses. This condition is called the wealth effect, where a person's change in income affects their spending habits and leads to growth in the economy.
When there comes a bear market, the stock prices fall, which is also known as the negative wealth effect. It is bound to create an atmosphere where there is uncertainty prevailing among consumers, and there is a fall in the value of their investments and spending. These factors, in turn, affect economic growth and the GDP.
- Business Investments
Apart from the consumer's factors, business investments are also key indicators. When stock prices are high, firms are more inclined to undertake capital investments as a result of the high market values. Many firms conduct initial public offerings (IPOs) during this period because market optimism is strong, and it is a favourable time to generate cash through the selling of shares. During a bull market, there are also more mergers and acquisitions because corporations may utilize the value of their shares to buy out other companies. This leads to bigger economic growth.
A bearish stock market has a different effect, where the confidence in the economy falls, and businesses would no longer be eager to invest in the economy. The fall in share prices also makes it hard for businesses to raise funds in the stock market.
- Pension Funds
Did you know the stock market can also affect the bond market and pension funds? A big part of these pension funds are invested in the stock market, and a fall in the price of the shares can decrease the value of the fund and also affect future pension payments. The lowered pension can also affect the economy because of lower spendings.
Conclusion
You might think it is just a matter of businesses and consumers but isn't our economy made up of businesses and consumers as a whole, and we need both of them to continue on this existence. But on a whole, yes, price changes, rises and falls, consumers and more can create a big impact on the economy. Whether you have been someone who invests in one stock for a short period of time or checks stock performance on Nifty Next 50 or S&P 500 for the best companies to invest in, you do play a big part in these fluctuations and will be affected by these changes. So now you are aware that the stock market takes a big bite on the economic twirl of our country.
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