Financial market means the market that creates and exchanges financial assets. When companies issue shares, debentures, etc. it is called creation of financial assets while their sale-purchase in the financial market is called exchange.

Functions: Financial market gives strength to economy by making finance available at the right place. Following are its main functions:

(i) Mobilisation of savings and their Channelisation into more Productive Uses:

Financial market gives impetus to the savings of the people. This market takes the uselessly lying finance in the form of cash to places where it is really needed. Many financial instruments are made available for transferring finance from one side to the other side. The investors can invest in any of these instruments according to their wish.

(ii) Facilitates Price Discovery: The price of any good or service is determined by the forces of demand and supply. Like goods and services, the investors also try to discover the price of their securities. The financial market is helpful to the investors in giving them proper price.

(iii) Provides Liquidity to Financial Assets: This is a market where the buyers and the sellers of all the securities are available all the times. This is the reason that it provides liquidity to securities. It means that the investors can invest their money, whenever they desire, in securities through the medium of financial market. They can also convert their investment into money whenever they so desire.

(iv) Reduces the cost of Transactions: Various types of information is needed while buying and selling securities. Much time and money is spent in obtaining it. The financial market makes available every type of information without spending any money. In this way, the financial market reduces the cost of transactions.