In secondary markets, investors exchange ownership of existing securities. The issuer is not typically involved in secondary market transactions. Investors will typically use a broker to help them trade securities. That broker is often the sales and trading desk within an investment bank, but could also be a specialist stockbroking firm. Both buyers and sellers of securities will use a broker to find the best trading venue, potentially a stock exchange or other electronic trading platform to execute the trade on behalf of the client. The sales and trading desk will receive a commission based on the value of each trade they execute. Why does a trade get initiated? Trades are initiated by investors for one or a combination of three reasons. One, to speculate, this allows investors to profit from an increase or decrease in an asset's price. Two, to accumulate, if an investor purchases a security, they will earn the right to receive income in the form of dividends or coupons for equities and bonds respectively. Three, to hedge risks, they might be exposed to. Financial markets have developed a number of trading mechanisms and platforms to allow for the trading of securities.