The Market Place
The marketplace determines share prices. While seller supply and buyer demand meet in the market, there is no perfect equation that lets investors know exactly how share prices will behave. However, there a number of factors that can move stocks up and down.
Demand and Supply
Demand and supply in the market affect the prices of shares. When demand for shares exceeds supply, which means the buyers are more than sellers, the prices increase. When demand is less than supply, meaning that buyers are less than sellers, the prices decrease.
Interest Rates
In case of lower interest rates, demand for funds is higher and the subsequent demand for shares rises. On the other hand, high interest lowers the demand for funds and the demand for shares is lower.
Investors
Market players have an impact on share prices. With more bulls than bears, the prices increase. With more bears than bulls, share prices decline.
Dividends
Dividends indicate the movement of share prices. When companies make dividend announcements, the share prices of such companies are likely to increase. It is important to note that if the dividend rate announced is lower than the investors’ expectations, share prices decline while if they are up to more than expected, share prices increase.
Management
Management profile has a significant effect on company success and stock prices. If management consists of experienced professionals with a proven track record, share prices are likely to be higher. If the management that takes over a company lacks integrity, share prices tend to fall.
Economy
Fluctuations in the economy feature what are commonly referred to as booms and depressions. Under favorable conditions share prices are at their peak and their lowest point is experienced during depressions. Share prices gradually rise during recovery and fall during recessions. Click here for live Lloyds share price.
Political Climate
Political factors that range from relations with other nations to government policies can affect share prices.
Short-Term and Long-Term Investors
Different investors rely on different factors. A short-term trader or investor is likely to prioritize and incorporate technical factors such as inflation, trends and demographics. Long-term investors focus on fundamentals like earning power and acknowledge the crucial role that technical factors play. Investors who prioritize fundamentals can integrate technical factors.
It is widely believed that market sentiment and technical factors are overwhelming on a short-term basis but fundamentals ultimately set share prices in the long run. Since conventional theories are not sufficient for explaining all the things that go on in the market, behavioral finance or market sentiment will always be a keen area of interest.
Considerations
- Stock prices change for various reasons. While some people believe that it is impossible to predict the changes, others think that observing past price movements and charts can determine when you should buy and sell.
- Stocks are volatile, which means that prices can rapidly change.
- Fundamentally, demand and supply in the market influence share price.
- Comparing the share prices of two different companies is not conclusive when determining the value of a company.
- Earnings affect how investors value companies but other indicators are used for the purpose of predicting stock prices. Stock prices are affected by investors’ expectations, attitudes and sentiments.
