The stock market, also known as the equity market or the share market, refers to the marketplace where publicly traded companies offer their shares to investors. Other synonyms for the stock market include the capital market, securities market, and financial market. The capital market is broader, including other forms of financial investments such as bonds and derivatives, while the securities market refers specifically to the buying and selling of financial securities. The financial market encompasses all aspects of the economy related to finance, including banking and insurance. Regardless of the term used, the stock market remains a vital cog in the capitalist economy, acting as a conduit between investors and companies seeking capital for growth and expansion.