The Loose Women star, 40, pulled out of her ITV programme for two weeks in a row after undergoing an ‘unexpected medical procedure’.

It was later claimed she had ‘quite a bad reaction’ and was left ‘feeling really poorly’.

However, Katie has now shared an update with her fans after being discharged from hospital, and has returned to work with a positive attitude.

Sharing a video on Instagram, Katie said: ‘I just wanted to make a little video to say thank you all for all your messages, DMs.

Comments and support, and just to let you know, I’m good, I’m doing fine.’

She went on: ‘I know lots of you have had trauma and things happen to you that means maybe you live with disease.

Disability, sickness, or maybe some kind of mental scars if not physical scars.

‘And you’ll know that sometimes, as determined as you are to not let come into your present or your future, or make you different from everybody else, sometimes the annoying thing is you are different from other people and medical things happen and they can hold you back even if it is temporary.

‘And that is what has happened to me recently unfortunately. I was so gutted to not be a part of the breakfast show.’

‘Anyone who knows me will know I hate calling in sick for work or letting people down or not showing up, and unfortunately that’s what happened,’ she went on, saying she was physically unable to record the show because she’d been in hospital.

Katie went on to explain that she’d had problems with her retina, which she’d never experienced before, having had problems with her cornea previously.

‘I had further complications and quite a bad infection,’ she said.

‘I’ve had to admit defeat and say as much as I don’t want any of my past to determine my future, sometimes I have to accept that that is part of being a burn survivor, and it’s held me back and got me down for the past couple of weeks, but now I’m recovered and better.’

Katie added that she had returned to work this week and was feeling more like ‘her old self’.

‘I’m learning to be more patient with myself and never take the little things for granted, because they definitely the big things,’ she concluded.

While she has not given any further details about the unplanned procedure and only shared pre-recorded clips on social media, Katie underwent eye surgery in December.

She explained how her eye was being semi-permanently closed to ‘preserve the eye, avoid perforation and losing my eye completely.’

Speaking on Loose Women in December, Katie explained how the eye procedure is called a tarsorrhaphy.

‘It’s an operation done in theatre and your eye is fully or partially stitched up,’ she said.

‘I’ve had a lot of problems with my eye in the last year and a half, I don’t like to go on about it because there’s always somebody worse off.

‘It’s been quite painful so it’s quite a relief for me to finally have it stitched up, because it’s a lot more comfortable.’

She went on to share that it wouldn’t be permanent and was set to be opened again after a year.

Katie suffered blindness in one eye along with other life changing injuries and burns after a horror acid attack in 2008.

The star’s talk show on ITV, Katie Piper’s Breakfast Show, airs every Saturday and Sunday morning at 8.25, and is currently in its second season.

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Source: New York Post

Capital Markets: An Overview

Capital markets are financial markets where long-term debt or equity-backed securities are bought and sold. They provide a platform for raising capital, facilitating investment, and enabling the transfer of funds between savers and borrowers. The efficiency and stability of capital markets are crucial for the overall health of an economy.

Components of Capital Markets

Primary Market:

In the primary market, new securities are issued and sold to investors directly by the issuer. This is where companies raise fresh capital by issuing stocks (equity) or bonds (debt).

Key activities include Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), where companies go public by offering shares for the first time, and debt issuances, such as corporate or government bonds.

Secondary Market:

The secondary market is where existing securities are traded among investors. This includes stock exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ.

Provides liquidity, allowing investors to buy and sell securities easily.

Types of Securities in Capital Markets

Equities (Stocks):

Represent ownership in a company.

Common stocks offer voting rights and potential dividends, while preferred stocks offer fixed dividends and priority over common stocks in asset liquidation.

Debt Securities (Bonds):

Loans made by investors to issuers (corporations, municipalities, or governments).

Pay periodic interest and return the principal at maturity.

Types include corporate bonds, government bonds, and municipal bonds.

Hybrid Securities:

Combine elements of both debt and equity, such as convertible bonds (which can be converted into a specified number of shares).

Key Functions of Capital Markets

Capital Formation:

Enable businesses to raise funds for expansion, innovation, and operations.

Investors provide capital in exchange for potential returns through dividends or interest.

Liquidity Provision:

Secondary markets offer liquidity, allowing investors to easily buy and sell securities.

Facilitates the efficient allocation of resources.

Price Discovery:

Markets determine the fair value of securities based on supply and demand dynamics.

Prices reflect the collective assessment of a company’s future prospects and overall economic conditions.

Risk Management:

Investors can diversify their portfolios by investing in a variety of securities.

Derivative instruments (options, futures) are available for hedging against price fluctuations.

Participants in Capital Markets

Issuers:

Corporations, governments, and municipalities that raise capital by issuing securities.

Investors:

Individuals, institutional investors (pension funds, mutual funds, insurance companies), and foreign investors seeking returns on their investments.

Intermediaries:

Investment banks, brokerage firms, and financial advisors that facilitate the issuance and trading of securities.

Regulators:

Government agencies (e.g., Securities and Exchange Commission in the U.S.) that oversee market activities to ensure transparency, fairness, and investor protection.

Regulatory Framework

Regulation in capital markets aims to protect investors, ensure fair trading, and maintain market integrity. Key regulations and standards include:

Disclosure Requirements: Companies must provide accurate and timely information to investors.

Insider Trading Laws: Prohibit trading based on non-public, material information.

Market Surveillance: Monitor trading activities to prevent market manipulation and fraud.

Impact on the Economy

Capital markets play a vital role in economic growth by:

Facilitating Investment: Mobilizing savings into productive investments, driving business expansion and innovation.

Promoting Economic Stability: Providing mechanisms for risk management and capital allocation.

Enhancing Financial Inclusion: Allowing a broader range of participants to invest and raise capital.

Current Trends and Challenges

Technological Advancements:

The rise of fintech, algorithmic trading, and blockchain technology is transforming capital markets by enhancing efficiency and transparency.

Globalization:

Increased cross-border capital flows and integration of global markets present opportunities and risks.

Regulatory Changes:

Evolving regulatory landscapes in response to financial crises and market innovations impact market operations.

Sustainability:

Growing emphasis on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria in investment decisions reflects the shift towards sustainable and responsible investing.

Conclusion

Capital markets are the backbone of a functioning financial system, providing the necessary infrastructure for capital formation, investment, and economic growth. Understanding their mechanisms, participants, and regulatory frameworks is essential for navigating and leveraging these markets effectively. As markets evolve with technological advancements and global integration, staying informed about trends and challenges remains crucial for all stakeholders.