This capital markets and trade life cycle course provides a clear and structured introduction to how financial markets operate behind the scenes. It begins with the trade life cycle, explaining how securities are processed from execution to settlement, including the roles of clearing houses, custodians, and back-office operations. The course also covers OTC (over-the-counter) trading and the platforms used for executing non-exchange-based transactions. Learners are introduced to mutual funds and Net Asset Value (NAV), helping them understand how fund pricing works and how investment decisions are made. In addition, the course explains reconciliation processes used to ensure accuracy in financial records. It also explores key financial infrastructure concepts such as custodians and depositories and their roles in safeguarding assets. The IPO process is covered step by step to show how companies go public and raise capital. A major focus is placed on compliance topics including KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. The course also introduces complex financial instruments such as Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS), Asset-Backed Securities (ABS), and Credit Default Swaps (CDS), along with money market instruments like treasury bills and repo transactions. By the end, learners gain a strong understanding of how financial markets function, how trades are processed, and how regulatory systems support market stability.