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- What is a Stock Market?
- What is a Commodity Market?
- Difference Between Stock Market and Commodity Market
- Things To Consider While Choosing Between Stock Market and Commodity Market
It is often difficult to choose the right asset for your investment goals from a plethora of investment options. From listed companies to precious metals like gold and also from crude oil to Agri produce, you can invest in anything. Stock markets focus on capital appreciation and profits, while commodity markets focus on hedging against price fluctuations.
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What is a Stock Market?
A stock market is an online marketplace where buying and selling shares or stocks of listed companies happen. When you buy a stock, you get part ownership of the company in return for the capital invested.
A stock is a financial instrument that reflects an individual’s ownership in a corporation.
Hence, the stockholder, like the owner of the company, has voting rights. Also, receives a portion of the earnings as dividends and enjoys capital appreciation.
You will not be able to buy the stocks directly from the company, instead, you purchase the shares through a stock exchange from other investors.
The stock price movements are highly volatile, therefore, it depends on multiple internal and external factors. There are multiple stock exchanges in India where you can buy and sell securities, following are the two primary stock exchanges:
- National Stock Exchange
- Bombay Stock Exchange
Furthermore, it is mandatory to have a trading and demat account with a registered broker to deal in stock markets.
What is a Commodity Market?
As the name suggests, the commodity market deals in buying, selling and trading of commodities. It deals in both hard and soft commodities like gold, silver, crude oil, coffee, rubber, etc.
The commodities are traded in a virtual as well as a physical marketplace.
Dealing in commodities includes the following:
- Physically purchasing the commodity
- Entering into a futures contract
- Either investing in a stock or ETF that focuses on commodities
A futures contract is the simplest and most convenient way of investing in the commodities market. Moreover, the futures contract is entered into at a predetermined price and a specified date. Furthermore, a futures contract is an obligation between the two parties to execute the transaction at the predetermined price and prefixed date. Also, manufacturers and farmers leverage the futures contract to hedge their potential losses. Following are the commodity exchanges in India:
- Ace Derivatives Exchange (ACE)
- Indian Commodity Exchange (ICEX)
- Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX)
- National Commodity & Derivative Exchange (NCDEX)
- National Multi Commodity Exchange of India (NMCE)
- The Universal Commodity Exchange (UCX)
Difference Between Stock Market and Commodity Market
Following are the key differences between the stock market and commodity market:
| Basis of Difference | Stock Market | Commodity Market |
| Purpose | Capital Appreciation in addition to Dividend | To hedge against fluctuating prices of the commodity. |
| Investor | Shareholder | Option holder |
| Ownership | Shareholders get the ownership of the company for their investment. | No ownership of the commodity. However, has a contract that reflects it. |
| Price | It largely depends on the performance of the company, economy, policy, and also news. | Depends on the demand and also the supply of the commodity. |
| Product | One unit of security doesn’t vary from another unit of the same type in terms of its face value and also other characteristics. | Commodities have several grades and varieties. Therefore prices vary based on the grade. |
| Supply | Almost fixed. | Not fixed. |
| Risk | In comparison to the commodity market, the stock market is less risky. | High risk |
| Dividend | Profits made by the company are passed onto the shareholders as dividends. | No dividends |
| Tools | Stocks, Futures and also Options. | Real commodities, futures and also options. |
| Margin Requirement | Lower | Higher |
| Trading | Intraday trading and also long term investing. | Futures and options contracts expire every month. |
| Trading hours | 9:15 am – 3:30 pm | 9 am to 11:30 pm for metals and energy. 10 am to 5 pm for Agri commodities. |
| Expiry | Last Thursday of every month for the F&O segment. | Different expiry for each commodity. |
| Lot Size | Equities do not trade in lots. | Commodities only trade in lots. |
| Exchange | NSE, BSE, CSE, etc. | MCX, NCDEX, NMCE, etc. |
| Participants | Investors, arbitragers, hedgers and also speculators. | Manufacturers, producers, dealers, traders and also speculators. |
Things To Consider While Choosing Between Stock Market and Commodity Market
Investing in the stock and commodity market has its own challenges. As a result, you should consider the following things before investing:
- Interest Rates: Interest rates have an impact on rate-sensitive stocks and also on the entire stock market. Interest changes also affect the commodity prices as the inventory holding cost changes.
- Prices: The stock prices depend on the performance of the company, quarterly, half-yearly and annual results and also, on dividends, macroeconomic factors like inflation and interest rates (RBI), etc. Therefore, you should carefully analyse all the parameters before investing. On the other hand, commodity traders analyse the demand and supply of the commodity to understand the market sentiment.
- Risk Tolerance Levels: Stock markets are risky but when compared to commodity market, they are less risky. Since stock investing is more long term. Therefore, before investing, understand your risk levels and choose the right market that suits your investment needs.
- Investment Objective: Stock markets are suitable for long term investment objectives such as retirement. While commodity markets are suitable for short term objectives.
READ MORE
- What is Financial Literacy?
- What is Primary Market?
- What is Commodity Index?
- What is Forward Contract?
- Difference Between Futures and Options
- What is Bond?
- What is Current Price?
- What is Gross Income?
- Stock Market Timings in India
- Difference Between Bonus Issue and Stock Split
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I'm an experienced financial expert with in-depth knowledge of both stock and commodity markets. My expertise comes from years of practical experience, thorough research, and a keen understanding of the dynamics within these markets.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:
Stock Market:
- Definition: A stock market is an online marketplace for buying and selling shares or stocks of listed companies.
- Ownership: When you buy a stock, you gain part ownership of the company in return for your investment, along with voting rights, dividends, and capital appreciation.
- Trading: Stocks are bought and sold through stock exchanges, with movements influenced by various internal and external factors.
- Exchanges: In India, there are primary stock exchanges such as the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
- Account Requirements: To trade in stock markets, having a trading and demat account with a registered broker is mandatory.
Commodity Market:
- Definition: The commodity market involves buying, selling, and trading commodities, including both hard and soft commodities like gold, crude oil, coffee, etc.
- Methods of Dealing: Commodity trading can involve physically purchasing the commodity, entering futures contracts, or investing in stocks or ETFs related to commodities.
- Futures Contracts: These contracts are entered into at a predetermined price and date, serving as an obligation to execute the transaction.
- Exchanges: India has commodity exchanges like Ace Derivatives Exchange (ACE), Indian Commodity Exchange (ICEX), Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), etc.
Difference Between Stock Market and Commodity Market:
- Purpose:
- Stock Market: Capital appreciation and dividends.
- Commodity Market: Hedging against fluctuating commodity prices.
- Ownership:
- Stock Market: Shareholders own the company.
- Commodity Market: No ownership, but contracts reflect it.
- Price:
- Stock Market: Depends on company performance, economy, policy, news.
- Commodity Market: Depends on demand and supply, with various grades affecting prices.
- Risk:
- Stock Market: Less risky compared to the commodity market.
- Commodity Market: High risk.
- Dividend:
- Stock Market: Shareholders receive dividends.
- Commodity Market: No dividends.
Things To Consider While Choosing Between Stock Market and Commodity Market:
- Interest Rates: Impact rate-sensitive stocks and commodity prices.
- Prices: Analyze company performance, results, dividends for stocks; analyze demand and supply for commodities.
- Risk Tolerance Levels: Stock markets are less risky than commodity markets.
- Investment Objective: Stock markets for long-term objectives, commodity markets for short-term objectives.
Understanding these concepts will empower you to make informed decisions when choosing between stock and commodity markets for your investment goals.
