Primary Market

Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Primary Market'

A market that issues new securities on an exchange. Companies, governments and other groups obtain financing through debt or equity based securities. Primary markets are facilitated by underwriting groups, which consist of investment banks that will set a beginning price range for a given security and then oversee its sale directly to investors.  

Also known as "new issue market" (NIM).
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Primary Market'

The primary markets are where investors can get first crack at a new security issuance. The issuing company or group receives cash proceeds from the sale, which is then used to fund operations or expand the business. Exchanges have varying levels of requirements which must be met before a security can be sold.  

Once the initial sale is complete, further trading is said to conduct on the secondary market, which is where the bulk of exchange trading occurs each day. Primary markets can see increased volatility over secondary markets because it is difficult to accurately gauge investor demand for a new security until several days of trading have occurred.  

Related Definitions

  • Initial Public Offering - IPO

    The first sale of stock by a private company to the public. IPOs are often issued by smaller, younger companies seeking the capital to expand, but can also be done by large privately ...
    Read More »
  • Secondary Market

    A market where investors purchase securities or assets from other investors, rather than from issuing companies themselves. The national exchanges - such as the New York Stock Exchange ...
    Read More »
  • Third Market

    Trading by non exchange-member brokers/dealers and institutional investors of exchange-listed stocks. In other words, the third market involves exchange-listed securities that are being ...
    Read More »
    • Public Offering Price - POP

      The price at which new issues of stock are offered to the public by an underwriter. Because the goal of an IPO is to raise money, underwriters must determine a public offering price that ...
      Read More »
    • New Issue

      A reference to a security that has been registered, issued and is being sold on a market to the public for the first time. New issues are sometimes referred to as primary shares or new ...
      Read More »
    • Canadian Capital Markets Association - CCMA

      A nonprofit organization that was created to analyze issues arising in the Canadian and international capital markets. The organization is focused on being an active participant toward ...
      Read More »
    • Stabilizing Bid

      A practice used by underwriters to stabilize the secondary market price of a security after an initial public offering (IPO). The bid is made on behalf of the IPO's underwriters to ...
      Read More »
    • Auction

      A system where potential buyers place competitive bids on assets and services. The asset or service in question will sell to the party that places the highest bid. In most cases, sellers ...
      Read More »
    • Underwriting

      1. The process by which investment bankers raise investment capital from investors on behalf of corporations and governments that are issuing securities (both equity and debt). 2. The ...
      Read More »
    • Auction Market

      A market in which buyers enter competitive bids and sellers enter competitive offers at the same time. The price a stock is traded represents the highest price that a buyer is willing to ...
      Read More »

Articles Of Interest

Partner Links