(i) Venture Fund Institutions :
(a) Venture capital financing is a form of equity financing designed especially for funding new and innovative project ideas.
(b) Many specialised financial institutions have promoted their own venture capital funds.
(c) They include Risk Capital Foundation of IFCI, Venture capital of IDBI, SIDBI,TDICI and others.
(ii) Mutual Funds :
(a) Financial institutions that provide facilities for channeling savings of smallinvestors into a venues of productive investments are called "Mutual Funds".
(b) Specialized financial institutions like LIC,UT,etc., beside Commercial banks such as SBI, and Canara Bank are carrying out the business of mutual funds.
(iii) Factoring Institutions :
(a) "Factoring" is an arrangement whereby a financial institution provides financial accommodation on the basis ofassignment/ sale of account receivables.
(b) Some of the factoring institutions operating in India are SBI Factors and Commercial Services Private Limited, a subsidiary of  State Bank of India and Canbank Factors Limited, a subsidiary of Canara Bank.
(iv) Over the Counter Exchange of India (0TCEI) :
(a) The OTCEI was set up by a premier financial institution to allow the trading of securities across the electronic counters throughout the country.
(b) It addresses some specific problems of both investors and medium-size companies.
(v) National Stock Exchange of India Limited :
(a) NSEI was established in 1992 to function as a model stock exchange.
(b) The Exchange aims at providing the advantage of nation-wide electronic screen based "scripless" and "loorless" trading system in securities.

 

The significance of capital market functions are as follows
(i) Savings and Capital Formation
In capital market, various types of securities help to mobilize savings from various sectors of population likes Individuals, Corporate, Government, etc.
(ii) Permanent Capital
The existence of a capital market/stock exchange enables companies to raise permanent capital.
(iii) Industrial Growth
The stock exchange is a central market through which resources are transferred to the industrial sector of the economy.The existence of capital market/stock exchange encourages people to invest in productive channels.
(iv) Ready and Continuous Market
The stock exchange provides a central convenient place where buyers and sellers can easily purchase and sell securities.
(v) Reliable Guide to Performance
The capital market serve as a reliable guide to the performance and financial position of corporate and thereby promotes efficiency.
(vi) Proper Channelization of Funds
The prevailing market price of security and relative yield are the guiding factors for the people to channelize their funds in a particular company.

Following are the nature/characteristic of a capital market.
(i) Securities Market
The dealings in a capital market are done through the securities like shares, debentures, etc.The capital market is thus called securities market.
(ii) Price
The price of the securities is determined based on the demand and supply prevailing in the capital market for securities.
(iii) Participants
There are many players in the capital market.The participants of the capital market include individuals, corporate sectors, Govt., banks and other financial institutions.
(iv) Location
Capital market is not confined to certain specific locations, although it is true that parts of the market are concentrated in certain well-known centers known as Stock Exchanges. It has its impact in the overall economy, wherever suppliers and users of capital get together and do business.
(v) Market for Financial Assets
Capital market provides a transaction platform for long term financial assets.