What is a stock exchange? How they work and major indexes

A stock exchange is the central hub of market trading activity where buyers buy and sellers sell shares of companies. It allows anyone to invest and be a partial owner in a company with the ability to reap the benefits of growth.

Last updated on August 5, 2023, and last reviewed by an expert on August 30, 2022.

A stock exchange is the central hub of market trading activity where buyers buy and sellers sell shares of companies. It allows anyone to invest and be a partial company owner with the ability to reap the benefits of growth.

In the past, stock exchanges were bustling physical locations — picture the crowded floor of the New York Stock Exchange, littered with order sheets. In fact, in 2000, the activity on the floor of the NYSE generated around 1.5 million pieces of paper each day.

However, those mountains of paper have largely disappeared. I’ve been on that floor for TV interviews plenty of times, but it’s become a remarkably sedate atmosphere. There’s plenty of elbow room now, and all that crushing background noise now feels like a dull hum.

Suggested read: What is forex trading?

How stock exchanges work

The companies listed on a stock exchange may be the main attraction, but the parties involved are what keep the exchange functioning smoothly. Specialists and market makers maintain an inventory of shares that they can use to provide liquidity to the market in times of high demand or company-specific news driving volume. This liquidity assures a buyer for every share sold, and shares available for every share investors want to buy.

Stock exchanges are fueled by the foundational economic principle of supply and demand, and the price of a stock fluctuates based on buying and selling activity. It’s all done electronically in a matter of seconds or fractions of a second.

In the U.S., stock exchanges typically operate between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST on business days and are closed on major federal holidays. However, stock prices are never set in stone, even when closed. A company might announce the appointment of a new CEO. A quarterly earnings report may show that a company outperformed revenue expectations.

Suggested read: Stock market basics: 8 tips for beginners

News of a product recall could surface. All that activity can impact what someone is willing to pay for a stock. Additionally, after-hours and pre-market trading — conducted when the exchanges are closed –— will sway a stock’s value.

Major stock exchanges to know about

Stock exchanges bring together buyers and sellers all over the world. Here’s a rundown of some of the largest exchanges fuel trading activity.

In addition to trading stocks, there are exchanges for commodities such as the New York Mercantile Exchange. Other exchanges like the Chicago Board of Options Exchange and Montréal Exchange facilitate financial trading products known as derivatives.

How to buy stocks on a stock exchange

You don’t have to go to a physical location to buy stocks, nor do you need to know anyone who wants to sell you their shares personally.

Suggested read: How to buy IPO stock

Instead, you can easily open a brokerage account and place an order from your phone, tablet, or desktop. The transaction occurs on the stock exchange.

Before you buy, though, do your research. Online brokerages make buying stocks as simple as a few swipes and clicks.

Companies listed on major stock exchanges regularly release earnings reports that can offer insights into the state of their operations, and you can review historical data about past performance (except for those recent IPOs, which can be buzz-worthy names but come with the risk of a limited track record).

That will require some additional reading and work, but that’s the reality of smart financial management: If you’re going to invest your money, you should invest some of your time, too.

Suggested read: What are stablecoins and why invest in them?

Share

More articles you might like

People who are reading “What is a stock exchange? How they work and major indexes”, also love these articles:

Browse all articles