Investor centre, or equities, are shares of ownership in publicly-traded companies. When people invest in the stocks of companies they can grow their wealth over time and potentially outpace inflation as company value grows, while also supporting other businesses and bolstering the economy overall. This makes it a key component of the modern world’s economies.

Most people who participate in the market do so on a long-term basis, buying and selling shares of various securities based on their research or recommendations from financial advisors, while attempting to build up a portfolio that increases in value. This typically requires patience and discipline since the price of a share can rise and fall quite rapidly, especially when an investor buys based on short-term predictions of future performance.

Stock Market Investment: A Beginner’s Guide

There are many different types of investments traded in the market, with each carrying a different level of risk. Some of the most popular are stocks (or equities), mutual funds and exchange-traded funds that hold baskets of shares of different companies and sectors, as well as commodity futures contracts based on what the market expects the cost of raw materials will be in the future.

The prices of these assets fluctuate based on supply and demand, and are set by investors who trade in the markets on a daily basis. These buyers and sellers include individual retail investors, mutual funds, pension funds, hedge funds, insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions, and even robo-advisors that automate the trading process for individuals.