We unpack ten private market terms that are fundamental to understanding the asset class. : Keep up-to-date with the latest coronavirus insights and its effects on markets and the economy by adding this page to your favourites Previously the domain of large institutional investors, private markets are becoming increasingly accessible. They’re important because they can provide alternative sources of returns for investors, can serve to diversify a portfolio as they are often less correlated with traditional asset classes, and tend to be less volatile than publicly-traded assets. While the nature of transactions can be complex, the terminology needn’t be.