Financial markets encompass platforms where individuals and entities trade financial securities, commodities, and other fungible items at low transaction costs. Efficient financial markets are crucial for economic stability and growth, influencing everything from interest rates to monetary metals customer service. These markets facilitate the exchange of assets like stocks, bonds, currencies, and derivatives, enabling investors to allocate capital efficiently. They serve as the backbone of global economies, providing liquidity and price discovery mechanisms. In addition to traditional stock exchanges, financial markets also include over-the-counter (OTC) markets and electronic trading platforms. Participants range from individual retail investors to large institutional players like banks and hedge funds.