Final answer:
Capital markets are venues for long-term finance, while money markets handle short-term lending. Primary markets provide initial offerings of securities, whereas secondary markets enable trading among investors. Mutual funds offer diversified investment in a range of company securities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Capital markets and money markets are essential components of the financial system. Capital markets facilitate the lending of money for periods longer than a year and include instruments like corporate bonds, government bonds, and long-term certificates of deposit. Conversely, money markets are used for borrowing and lending for durations of less than one year. An essential aspect of capital markets is that they provide a platform for firms to raise capital, whether through issuing stocks or bonds. The markets are crucial for investors seeking to earn returns on company decisions by investing in stocks and other securities.
Primary markets are where new securities are initially sold by firms to raise capital, and investors can buy these assets directly from the issuer. Secondary markets, namely stock exchanges, allow for the trading of these securities after the initial sale. Here, investors buy and sell from each other, rather than from the issuing company. Diversification of investments through mutual funds offers an opportunity to invest in a broad range of stocks and bonds, indirectly investing in a variety of companies' goods and services.