Capital Markets Vs Investment Banking – Similarities And Differences

There seems to be some debate among people in the corporate world about the capital markets vs Investment banking.

In practice, investment banking and capital markets overlap significantly, yet their focuses diverge: investment banking encompasses broad advisory services like mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and restructurings generating $25.6 billion in global fees in 2023 (per Statista), while capital markets zero in on securities issuance, such as IPOs and bonds, with equity capital markets (ECM) raising $149 billion globally in 2023 (per Dealogic).

Investment bankers work 80–100+ hours weekly on industry-specific deals (e.g., healthcare M&A), per Wall Street Oasis, whereas capital markets professionals, like those in ECM or debt capital markets (DCM), average 60–80 hours focusing on product expertise, per industry reports.

Both fields offer similar entry-level pay—$80,000–$100,000 base salaries at bulge-bracket banks like Goldman Sachs but investment banking’s broader deal exposure often leads to stronger private equity exit opportunities, while capital markets roles align more with trading or asset management paths

What Is Investment Banking?

Investment banking is a specialized branch of banking that offers financial consulting services and aids in capital raising for businesses or individuals.

They serve as a conduit between security issuers and investors and facilitate the IPO of new businesses. Either they purchase all of the shares that are offered at a price determined by their experts and then resell them to the public, or they sell shares on behalf of the issuer and receive commission for each share sold.

Types of Investment Banking

Investment banking services are provided by numerous businesses worldwide. However, these banks can be split into three primary groups:

• Bulge bracket banks
• Middle market banks
• Boutique banks

#1. Bulge bracket banks

The biggest investment banks fall into this category. They operate frequently around the world as a result, and their services are very resilient.

#2. Middle market banks

Compared to bulge bracket banks, these investment banks are smaller. Additionally, the scale of their company operations is substantially lower.

#3. Boutique banks

Boutique banks come in three flavors: upscale, local, and sector-specific. The largest of the three are prestigious boutique banks because they frequently collaborate with enormous corporations on mergers and acquisitions. Boutique banks that specialize in particular regions or industries concentrate on smaller transactions in those areas or businesses.

Investment banking typically comprises a small portion of a company’s overall activity. These businesses frequently engage in wealth management or commercial banking in some capacity. Looking at some of the biggest businesses in the sector makes this clear:

• Goldman Sachs
• Deutsche Bank
• JPMorgan Chase
• Morgan Stanley
• Bank of America
• Merrill Lynch
• Barclays Investment Bank
• Citigroup
• Wells Fargo Securities

Large investment banks frequently have specialized divisions inside them that concentrate on certain markets and industries. Food, sports, retail, technology, healthcare, and other areas are a few examples.

What Is Capital Markets?

Savings and investments are transferred between providers of goods and services and people in need on capital markets. Banks and investors are common examples of suppliers, which are individuals or organizations having capital to lend or invest.

Businesses, governments, and people all look for capital in this market. Primary and secondary markets are the components of capital markets. Stock and bond markets are the two types of capital markets that are most frequently used.

By bringing suppliers and people looking for capital together and giving them a location to exchange securities, they aim to increase transactional efficiency.

The term  “capital market” is a general one that refers to the physical locations as well as online marketplaces where diverse organizations trade various kinds of financial products. The stock market, bond market, currency, and foreign exchange (forex) markets are a few examples of these places.

Major financial hubs like New York, London, Singapore, and Hong Kong host the majority of the world’s markets.

The providers and consumers of capital make up the capital markets. Households, institutions like pension and retirement funds, life insurance firms, nonprofit organizations, and non-financial businesses that produce surplus cash are examples of suppliers (through the savings accounts they maintain with banks).

Users of the cash released on capital markets include people buying homes and cars, non-financial businesses, and governments funding infrastructure investment and operational costs.

Selling financial items like shares and debt securities takes place largely on capital markets. Stocks are ownership shares in a firm, and equities are stocks. Debt securities, like bonds, are IOUs that bear interest.

Examples Of Capital Markets

The New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, and NASDAQ are examples of capital markets that are extremely well organized. In addition to trading on a regulated exchange, securities can also be traded “over the counter.”

These securities are typically issued by companies that don’t meet the requirements for a formal exchange in terms of their financial fundamentals, such as revenue, capitalization, and profitability, which causes investors to find alternative trading venues for the assets.

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Types of Capital Market

There are ttwo types of the capital market, they are:

• Primary Market
• Secondary Market

#1. Primary market

Newly issued securities, or first-time trading, are traded on the primary market. An initial public offering is made possible. The market for fresh issues is another name for it.

The use of preferential allocation, rights issues, electronic initial public offerings (IPOs), the pre-selected issuance of securities, and private placements enable corporations generate money in this situation.

The middleman typically gives the shares an initial price, much like an investment bank would. Firms take their shares to the stock exchange as soon as the sale is completed to enable trading between various investors.

#2. Secondary market

The secondary market is where old securities are traded following primary market transactions. The term “secondary market” refers to both stock exchanges and over-the-counter transactions. This marketplace is sometimes referred to as the stock market or the aftermarket.

The London Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, etc., are a few examples of secondary markets.

Capital Markets vs Investment Banking Salary

Capital markets are an exchange system platform that moves capital from investors looking to use their extra funds to businesses in need of funding for various projects or investments.

Investment bankers are among the highest-paid occupations for their age group in terms of total compensation. You can anticipate making over $100,000 as a new hire right out of college, which will likely much exceed the earnings of the majority of your peers. However, the hourly pay for investment bankers is a another matter.

Investment bankers are not compensated nearly as well per hour. The average analyst and associate works over 100 hours per week, thus their hourly pay might be anywhere from $25 to $35. Although it’s not terrible, $100,000 a year didn’t sound as good.

Investment banker salary table

The salaries and bonuses that investment banking professionals get make up their total pay.

In all positions, the bonus makes up a sizable portion of a banker’s overall income, but at the more senior levels, where it can be several times the base salary of an investment banker, it is much more significant.

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Debt Capital Markets vs Investment Banking

A market for trading debt securities like bonds and loans is called the debt capital market (DCM), often known as a fixed income market. Debt capital markets, like equity markets, are used by companies and governments to raise long-term money that may be utilized for expansion or upkeep.

The primary distinction between the debt and equity markets is that investors in stocks and bonds are lenders who only have the right to a fixed interest rate, as opposed to equity buyers who are investors.

The worldwide financial market includes the debt capital market as a significant element. It can be generically classified into primary and secondary markets, even though it applies to all marketplaces where debt is transacted.

In order to raise money from investors directly, a borrower issues a new bond in the primary market. In contrast, existing bonds are traded between various parties on the secondary market, including investment managers, hedge fund owners, governments, and other commercial organizations.

The fact that all assets traded on both markets have a fixed term, despite the fact that interest rates can be fixed or variable, is one thing they all have in common.

The Origination

The majority of businesses that seek to acquire capital through debt rarely engage in direct trading in the main market. Instead, they seek the assistance of a debt capital management-focused investment bank to assist them with fresh bond issuance.

This procedure is referred to as origination, and the investment bank involved in it is known as the originator. The investment bank will demand a specified sum of money as its fee in exchange for this service. The investment bank may also profit from the sale of services related to this bond issue, such as cross currency swaps.

Debt is bought and sold directly on the secondary market in this situation. Government bonds are one of the most common types of securities traded. The government issues these bonds to the general public in order to raise funds for its development programs.

The Focus

The generation of capital for other businesses, governments, and other entities is the focus of the particular branch of banking known as investment banking.

The main focus of investment banking is raising funds for other businesses, governments, and other organizations.

Underwriting new debt and equity securities for all kinds of firms, assisting in the sale of securities, and supporting mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, and broker transactions for both institutions and private investors are all part of investment banking activity.

Investment Banking vs Capital Markets – Similarities

Capital markets and investment banking work hand in hand. In the advice and capital raising function of investment banking, each has a specific function.

Besides, Leveraged finance, debt capital markets, and equity capital markets are the three main types of capital markets. Hence, These bankers concentrate on their individual goods and are well-versed in their marketplaces.

Although, Equity and debt securities can be purchased and sold on capital markets. However, Capital markets serve as a conduit for savings and investment between capital providers, such as retail and institutional investors, and capital users, such as companies, the government, and people.

Since capital is essential for producing economic output, capital markets are crucial to the functioning of an economy. Primary markets, where new stock and bond issues are sold to investors, and secondary markets, which exchange existing securities, are examples of capital markets.

Investment banking, on the other hand, is a unique branch of banking that helps people and organizations raise money and offers them financial consulting services. They serve as a mediator between security issuers and investors and aid startup companies in going public. 

They either buy all the shares that are available at a price determined by their experts and resale them to the general public, or they sell shares on behalf of the issuer and receive a commission for each share sold.

Investment Banking vs Capital Markets- How Different are they?

The fundamental distinction between capital markets and “investment banking (coverage)” is as follows: Knowledge of products is emphasized in the capital markets. Industry expertise is a key component of investment banking.

Conclusion

Knowledge about products is a key component of the capital markets. Knowing the industry is a must in investment banking.

FAQs On Capital Markets VS Investment Banking

References

• https://m.economictimes.com – what is investment banking?
• https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com – capital markets vs investment banking salary
• https://www.investopedia.com – debt capital markets vs investment banking
• https://enterslice.com – investment banking vs capital markets – similarities
• https://www.wallstreetoasis.com – investment banking vs capital market – how different are they

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