Securities are financial instruments that confirm ownership rights (stocks) or debt obligations (bonds). Stocks represent a share in the ownership of a company. Investors who buy stocks become shareholders and may receive dividends and voting rights, depending on the type of stock. Bonds are debt securities issued by companies or the government to raise borrowed funds. The buyer of a bond essentially lends money to the issuer and receives interest (a coupon) and/or the return of the nominal value at the end of the term.