The term 'Market Sector' is used in
economics and
finance to describe a set of businesses that are buying and selling such similar
goods and
services that they are in direct competition with each other. Analysts divide the
stock market itself into market sectors so that shares of companies that are in direct competition are listed alongside each other.
In the
bond market it refers to the division of the market by the type of issuer. E.g. government, state, corporate, or utility.
The term is also used in
marketing to describe sections of the mass market that can be specifically targeted in advertising campaigns. In this context it is correctly called
Market segment.
Markets are often split into sectors using the
Global Industry Classification Standard.