Browse Market Structure

Capital Market

Learn what the capital market does, who uses it, and how it channels long-term funding from savers to borrowers.

The capital market is the system through which long-term funding is raised and allocated.

It connects savers and investors with governments, corporations, and other issuers that need capital for projects, expansion, refinancing, or long-horizon spending.

What Belongs in the Capital Market

Capital-market activity is usually associated with longer-term claims such as:

  • stocks
  • corporate bonds
  • government bonds
  • other long-dated securities

That makes it different from the money market, which focuses on shorter-term instruments.

Why It Matters

A well-functioning capital market helps economies channel savings toward productive uses. It also helps investors choose among risk, return, liquidity, and maturity profiles.

Revised on Monday, May 18, 2026