Question:

Differentiate between 'Capital Market' and 'Money Market' on the basis of the following: (i) Investment outlay (ii) Liquidity (iii) Safety

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Remember: Money Market = High cost, high safety, high liquidity (short term). Capital Market = Low cost, higher risk, moderate liquidity (long term).
Updated On: Jun 25, 2026
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Correct Answer: 3

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Concept
Difference between Capital Market and Money Market.

Step 2: Meaning
Financial markets are classified based on the maturity of the financial instruments traded. The money market deals in short-term funds, while the capital market deals in medium and long-term funds.

Step 3: Analysis

Investment Outlay: Money market instruments (like Treasury Bills or Commercial Paper) require a huge investment outlay as they are quite expensive and issued in large denominations. Capital market instruments (like shares or debentures) do not require a huge financial outlay as their face value is generally low (e.g., ₹10 or ₹100), making them accessible to retail investors.

Liquidity: Money market instruments enjoy a higher degree of liquidity as there is a formal arrangement for creating liquidity (such as the Discount Finance House of India). Capital market instruments are also liquid since they are traded on stock exchanges, but comparatively, they are less liquid than money market instruments.

Safety: Money market instruments are generally safer with a minimum risk of default due to their shorter duration and the high financial soundness of the issuers. Capital market instruments are riskier both in terms of returns and principal repayment.


Step 4: Conclusion
The capital and money markets serve entirely different needs for investors based on how much capital they have, how quickly they need cash, and their risk tolerance.

Final Answer: 1. Investment Outlay, 2. Liquidity, 3. Safety as differentiated above.
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