What is the OTC Market? Opportunities and Risks Investors Need to Know

Posted date: 12/02/2025 Updated date: 11/02/2025

Index

What is OTC market?? This is the question that many financial investors ask when first approaching the stock market and financial instruments. 

What is the OTC Market?

>>> See more articles: THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STOCK MARKET TO THE ECONOMY

OTC (Over-the-Counter) or also known as the off-exchange market, is where securities, bonds, and financial contracts are traded without going through an official exchange. Let's learn about What is the OTC market?, how this market works, as well as the opportunities and risks of participating in it. OTC market in Vietnam.

What is the OTC market? This is a market financial transaction outside the official stock exchange, where stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments are traded directly between buyers and sellers without the intermediary of public stock exchanges. Companies and financial institutions will create separate trading systems, allowing investors to participate in the market without having to go through official stock exchanges such as HOSE or HNX.

Trading in the OTC market is primarily between two parties: a buyer and a seller. This means that companies and financial institutions are free to conduct transactions without having to comply with the strict listing regulations that are required on major exchanges. However, this also means that the OTC market lacks the scrutiny and transparency that is required on major exchanges, which can lead to higher risks for investors.

What is the OTC market?

What is the OTC Market?

What is the OTC market? Simply put, the OTC market is where financial transactions take place outside of official stock exchanges. This is a market where companies can issue stocks or bonds without going through a lengthy listing process and without being subject to strict regulations on information disclosure. Assets traded on the OTC market can include unlisted stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments such as futures contracts.

The OTC market is mainly operated through brokerage firms or banks, where the parties to a transaction can directly negotiate the value and terms of the transaction. This can bring benefits in terms of flexibility but also increases risks due to the lack of market supervision and transparency.

How Does the OTC Market Trade?

How does the OTC market trade? Trading in the OTC market does not follow the procedures of official exchanges. Instead, transactions are carried out through spontaneous systems or securities companies, banks, financial institutions. These are organizations that act as intermediaries between buyers and sellers.

These transactions may take place through financial brokerage firms, where participants can negotiate and set the terms of the transaction. This can provide benefits in terms of flexibility but also increases risk due to lack of oversight and transparency.

OTC Market In Vietnam

OTC Market in Vietnam Currently, it is mainly the place where shares of unlisted companies or companies that are not qualified to be listed on official stock exchanges are traded. This opens up opportunities for small companies and startups to raise capital without having to go through complicated listing procedures.

OTC Market in Vietnam There are still many challenges, including lack of liquidity and lack of transparency. OTC stocks may not be easy to trade and lack of financial information, making it difficult to value assets. However, if investors have a clear understanding and strategy, this can still be a potential investment channel.

OTC Market and Centralized Market

An important question when learning about the OTC market is what is the difference between OTC market and centralized market. The OTC market does not require companies to comply with listing regulations like official stock exchanges. In contrast, centralized markets such as HOSE, HNX or international exchanges require companies to meet high standards of finance, governance and information disclosure.

Centralized markets are more liquid because transactions are conducted publicly and are easily accessible. Companies listed on these exchanges must comply with strict regulations, protect shareholder rights and provide full disclosure. However, trading on the OTC market is more flexible and may be suitable for experienced investors looking for investment opportunities that are not exploited on the major exchanges.

OTC market and centralized market

Benefits and Risks of Participating in the OTC Market

When participating in the OTC market, investors may face both opportunities and challenges. One of the outstanding benefits of What is OTC market? It is the ability to trade assets that are not listed on major stock exchanges. This helps investors access stocks with high growth potential, but are not listed on public exchanges such as HOSE or HNX. The OTC market also stands out for its flexibility in trading, with few complicated administrative procedures, creating opportunities for new, small and medium-sized enterprises to raise capital without having to go through the strict processes of listed exchanges.

However, the OTC market also has many risks that investors need to be aware of. One of the major problems is the lack of liquidity, which means it is difficult to sell or buy stocks in large quantities without experiencing sharp price fluctuations. In addition, due to the lack of strict supervision and regulation like the major stock exchanges, public information about companies trading on the OTC market is often incomplete, leading to the risk of fraud and lack of transparency in transactions. Therefore, investors need to be careful and carefully research information before participating in the OTC market, especially for stocks that do not have clear public information.

Benefits and risks of participating in the OTC market

Conclude

What is the OTC market? Is an important question for those who want to participate in the financial market. Although it can bring attractive investment opportunities, the OTC market also has many potential risks due to the lack of transparency and liquidity. Investors need to have investment knowledge have a solid and clear strategy to be able to take advantage of opportunities, while minimizing risks when participating in OTC market in Vietnam. Compared with the centralized market, the OTC market can bring high profits, but caution and careful evaluation are needed before deciding to invest.

Hope this article has helped you have a clearer view of What is OTC market?, how this market works, as well as the benefits and risks of participating in trading on the OTC market. With a full understanding of the characteristics of this market, investors can make the right financial decisions and make the most of the investment opportunities that OTC market in Vietnam bring HVA Group Wish you successful and safe investment strategies.

Share:

Picture of Đoàn Nguyễn Duy Hậu

Doan Nguyen Duy Hau

HVA shares are a sustainable profitable choice in the investment field. Committed to bringing safety and maximum benefits to investors through effective investment solutions.
HVA shares are a sustainable profitable choice in the investment field. Committed to bringing safety and maximum benefits to investors through effective investment solutions.

Related Articles

Search

Tags