CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
The capital market exists primarily to facilitate funds mobilization and allocation in an economy. Capital accumulation is a determination of economic growth, and since economic units are variously evolved in varying degrees, some will have more than their current requirements, while others will have less than their current consumption. The capital market exists to reconcile these varying and conflicting needs in an economy. It does this through the creation of financial assets and liabilities with varying degree of risk and returns, capable of meeting the various needs of the economic units.
The stock exchange is an organized capital market charges with the responsibility of providing the facilities capable of enhancing the realization of objectives and needs of these economic units, for instance, Ekundayo (2006) maintained that stock exchange are exchangeable between buyers and sellers.
Ajayi (2006) treated it as a market for the sales and purchases of cooperate and treasury stock.
Adekanya (2005) defined stock exchange as a market where buyers and sellers of stock and shares transact business. However, members of the public or investors have no direct access to the market, the buying and selling are done by stockbrokers acting on their behalf in order to achieve its functions or roles effectively.
The capital Markey utilizes network of financial institutions. It also warrants some measures of regulations to be able to maintain fairness to all investors and the economic units at large.
In an economy, the capital market must have some basic functions, firstly, an environment must be created to enable the government borrow locally to finance its expenditure, or for the private sectors to acquire local funds for business expansion.
As noted by Ajayi (2005), the capital market is for raising and investing long-term capital borrowers for a period of full years or more and some times shorter.
Ikoku (2006), also maintained that capital market is seen as a complex institution and mechanism through which intermediate term funds and long term funds are pooled and made available for the business, government and household sectors etc. The stock Exchange therefore strives to fulfill these roles.
Statement of Problem
The stock exchange as an organized capital market has been identified as a source of medium and long-term finance, which offers in valuable benefits to business organisations patronizing it. The stock exchange should play a major role in the economic development of the country. Apart form its fund mobilization functions, it is expected to provide facilities for its financial intermediation role by making it possible for those who have surplus funds to loan it to those in needs of it for production purpose. However, the Nigerian Capital Market and especially the Nigerian Stock Exchange has been accused of not contributing as expected to the development of the economy, but why is this case?
The research study is set out to find out emphatically the effect which the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NES) has on the development of the Nigerian economy.
Objectives of the Study
The study is primarily aimed at critically examining the impact of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) on the various sectors of the economy and the benefits derivable from patronizing the market.
This research work is also aimed at investigating how the stock exchange market activities relates to industrial production growth rate. In this process, the performance of the Nigerian Stock Exchange with economy is assessed.
Research Questions
The relevant research questions include:
Does the Nigerian Stock Exchange market enhance economic development in Nigeria?
What is the effect of stock exchange to economic development of a country?
Does the Nigeria Stock Exchange Market contribute to the development of the gross domestic product of the citizens of Nigeria?
Is there a position relationship between market capitalization of the stock exchange and the economic growth and development?
Research Hypothesis
Hypothesis is the tentative statement formulated on the basis of guiding research problems about a set of phenomena, these are found to be true or false after some findings through study, then they will be uphold or rejected.
The working hypotheses for the study are stated in order of the null and alternative hypothesis.
Ho: There is no significant relationship between the total market capitalization of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the gross domestic product market price.
Hi: There is a significant relationship between the total market capitalization of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the gross domestic product market price.
Ho: There is no significant relationship between the size of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and industrial production growth rate.
Hi: There is a significant relationship between the size of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and industrial production growth rate.
Significance of the Study
The need for the study needs not to be overemphasized, this is because little attention has been given to finding out the extent to which the Nigerian Stock Exchange affects the economy. It is expected that this study will be beneficial to the individual investors, business enterprises and government.
To appreciate the beauty of the stock exchange activities is a rewarding knowledge for itself. This study would enable individual investors to discard the “buy and hold” attitude of various securities, it will also help in enlightening the members of the public as to the meaning of shares and stock, also the need to save for unforeseen contingencies by inculcating in them, the savings and investment habit.
This study will also be relevant to business enterprises and the government in the sense that it’s going to bring out the usefulness of the raising funds in Nigerian Stock Exchange as regards reduction in risks and involvement of the public in economic development.
Scope of the Study
The focus of the study is on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, representing a major part of the capital market and can rightly be assured to be the most organized capital source in the country.
The analysis of the impact of the impact of the Nigerian Stock Exchange on the Nigerian economy will be the scope of focus of this project work. References will be made from inception of the Nigerian Stock Exchange till date and the relevant constitution within this time specified.
