A financial market is a platform where buyers and sellers come together to trade financial assets, such as stocks, bonds, and currencies. These markets facilitate the exchange of capital and provide a way for companies to raise funds for growth and operations. They play a crucial role in the economy by determining the prices of assets based on supply and demand. There are various types of financial markets, including the stock market, where shares of publicly traded companies are bought and sold, and the bond market, where investors can purchase debt securities. Other markets include the foreign exchange market for currency trading and the derivatives market, which deals with contracts based on the value of underlying assets.