Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Practice Exam 2026 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

The third market is defined as the trading of exchange-listed securities that occurs over-the-counter (OTC) between broker-dealers and large institutional investors. In this market, transactions take place outside the traditional stock exchanges, allowing institutional players to conduct trades more discreetly and potentially at more favorable prices than those listed on exchanges.

This market activity mainly involves large blocks of shares, which can be beneficial for institutions seeking to minimize market impact and maintain liquidity without affecting the publicly quoted prices. The third market serves as a complementary trading venue, providing flexibility for institutions that prefer to trade outside the standard exchange framework.

In contrast, the primary market is where securities are created and issued for the first time, primarily involving initial public offerings (IPOs), while the secondary market refers to the trading of already issued securities among investors. The fourth market, on the other hand, pertains to direct trading of securities between institutions without intermediaries, typically through electronic networks.

Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the unique role the third market plays in the broader financial ecosystem.