68 Stock Market Facts That Every Aspiring Investor Should Know

Anamika Balouria
Sep 08, 2022 By Anamika Balouria
Originally Published on Mar 31, 2022
Edited by Sarah Nyamekye
Fact-checked by Shruti Thapa
Read stock market facts to learn about the international equity free-market economy, bull market, bear market, and private investors.
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 10.0 Min

A stock market is the kind of place where stocks are traded between investors.

The prices of stocks are always going up and down as investors buy and sell shares. This makes the stock market an exciting place to invest money because it is never known how the market will move from one day to the next.

The stock market can be an extremely profitable place to invest money.

Over the long term, stocks have always been a good investment because they provide a return that is higher than most other types of investments. However, the stock market can also be very risky because the prices of stocks can move up and down quickly.

This means that an investor can make a lot of money if they invest in the right stocks, but they can also lose a lot of money if they invest in the wrong stocks.

History Of The Stock Market

The first formal stock market originated in Amsterdam in 1602.

It was known as the Dutch East India Company, and it was a place where investors could buy and sell shares of the company's stock.

In the centuries that followed, other stock markets were created in other parts of the world.

The London Stock Exchange, for example, was founded in 1801 in London.

Back in the 12th century, courtiers de change were responsible for handling and controlling agricultural communities' debts in regard to the banks in France.

The first brokers may have been men who dealt with debt.

In the late 13th century, a group of traders in Bruges, Belgium, congregated outside at a market square that housed an inn run by the Van der Beurze family. They became the Brugse Beurse in 1409, establishing their informal gatherings into a formalized procedure.

The phenomenon quickly spread across Flanders and the nearby countries. 'Beurzen' began in Ghent along with Rotterdam soon afterwards.

International traders and bankers from Italy started to use the word in their cities in the early years of the 13th century to define a place where stocks were traded: the Italians called it Borsa, the French called it Bourse, the Germans called it börse, and so on.

The Van der Beurse family takes its name from the Latin word 'bursa', which was originally referred to as a money bag.

In the 13th century, Venetian bankers started to trade in government bonds.

Back in 1351, the Venetian government put a stop to rumors that were intended to make people sell their government funds at a lower price.

Some bankers in Florence, Genoa, Pisa, and Verona began to deal with federal debt in the 14th century.

This was accomplished thanks to the fact that these cities were not governed by a duke but rather a council or committee of prominent individuals.

The first companies to offer shares were Italian.

In the 16th century, firms in England and the Netherlands began to appear.

Around this period, a joint-stock firm with stock held by multiple investors emerged, which also became essential for European colonization of the 'New World'.

In 1792, the New York Stock Exchange was established near Wall Street.

Stock markets now exist in the developed and the countries which are in the stage of development.

The largest stock exchanges contributing to the global economy and helping during the financial crisis are located in India, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, China, Germany, Canada, France, Netherland, and South Korea.

Stock Exchange

The stock exchange market is a set of markets wherein traders can invest in stocks.

It primarily relates to the markets for buying and selling stocks as well as other commodities.

The stock exchange market can be used to measure the performance of a whole economy or particular sectors of it.

A stock exchange market may be regulated by government agencies, self-regulated, or not regulated at all.

The regulation of the stock exchange market may include permissions, rules, and guidelines that regulate the prices and methods of trading.

In some cases, the regulations may protect investors by prohibiting certain types of fraud or by guaranteeing that all potential shareholders have access to critical information about a company before they invest.

The biggest stock exchange markets are located in the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

The markets are constantly changing, and new ones are always being created.

There are several different ways to invest in stocks.

One way is to purchase stocks directly from a company through a process called direct investment.

Another way is to purchase stocks through a stockbroker.

Brokers usually charge a commission for their services.

Some people also invest in stocks through mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Mutual funds are collections of stocks that are managed by professionals.

ETFs are almost similar to mutual funds, but they can be traded like individual stocks on stock exchanges.

Investors who want to buy and sell stocks quickly can use stock trading platforms.

These platforms allow investors to buy and sell stocks online.

The stock exchange market can be used to measure the performance of a whole economy or particular sectors of it.

The size of the stock exchange market at the international level can be measured by the value of all traded stocks.

The value of all traded stocks is called market capitalization.

The market capitalization of a stock exchange market can be used to measure the size of that market.

A 'bull market' refers to a market when stock market prices are rising, while a stock market price decline is referred to as a 'bear market'.

Types of Stock Markets

There are three types of stock market exchanges: primary, secondary, and tertiary.

A primary market is where companies sell their shares to investors for the first time.

The most famous example of a primary market is the New York Stock Exchange, where stocks are traded between investors.

A secondary market is where investors trade shares that they already own.

The most important example of a secondary market is the NASDAQ, which is where most technology stocks are traded.

A tertiary market is a place where stocks are traded between investors who do not own them.

The most important example of a tertiary market is the over-the-counter (OTC) market, which is where stock is not even traded on the stock exchange are traded.

The NYSE is the primary market for stocks because companies offer their shares to investors for the first time on this exchange.

The NASDAQ is the secondary market for stocks because investors trade shares that they already own on this exchange.

The OTC market is the tertiary market for stocks because investors trade stocks with each other that they do not own on this market.

Not all stock exchange markets are regulated.

Some exchanges are self-regulated, while others are not regulated at all.

The regulation of a stock exchange market may include permissions, rules, and guidelines that regulate the prices and methods of trading.

In some cases, the regulations may protect investors by prohibiting certain types of fraud or by guaranteeing that almost all potential shareholders receive access to essential information about a company before they invest.

As of March 2018, the market capitalization of the New York Stock Exchange was $30.1 trillion. This means that the value of all traded stocks on the New York Stock Exchange was $30.1 trillion.

As per the records of February 2022, the market capitalization of the London Stock Exchange was $50.51 billion. This means that the value of all traded stocks on the London Stock Exchange was $50.51 billion.

Functioning Of Stock Market

Together with bond yields, which are often financially coercive and could never operate freely, a stock market is among the biggest significant avenues for firms to generate revenue.

Corporations can become widely listed as well as acquire more economic resources for development by distributing ownership shares together on the stock exchange.

The availability that a marketplace provides to clients allows security owners to trade assets swiftly as well as readily.

Trading in shares does have this advantage over some alternative lesser marketable securities like real estate as well as comparable immovable commodities.

The stock market, as well as other commodities, have historically demonstrated how they are a significant component of such approaches to economic operations that might even affect or become an indication of public attitude.

A speed market is characterized as one in which the share market seems to be on the upswing.

A stock market is sometimes seen as the most important measure of a government's strong economy as well as progress.

For example, higher stock rates are indeed linked to increasing expenditures and growth simultaneously.

Stock markets have an impact on domestic status as well as spending.

As a result, monetary authorities wish to maintain a watch upon the financial economy's regulation and demeanor, as well as the proper functioning of banking industry activities overall.

Central banks exist to ensure economic security. Stock exchanges additionally serve as just the administration for every trade, collecting as well as delivering stocks plus ensuring that the bidder of a stock is paid.

It reduces the likelihood of a competitor defaulting on a business for an independent purchaser.

The flawless operation of each of such processes stimulates economic development by lowering costs by reducing business liabilities, which encourages the development of services and goods, including the creation of job opportunities.

The world economy or global market capitalization is seen overall to assist in higher development throughout this approach, while there is considerable debate about whether the best economic market is based on the bank or based on the stock market economy.

The Global Financial Crisis has a great impact on the stock market prices, which is known as the market microstructure in regard to the systemic risk traceability along with the financial markets or global stock markets.

FAQs

What is interesting about the stock market?

One of the very interesting things about the stock market is that it is constantly changing. The prices of stocks are always going up and down as investors buy and sell shares. This makes the stock market an exciting place to invest money because it is never known how the market will move from one day to the next.

Is the stock market actually profitable?

The stock market can be an extremely profitable place to invest money. Over the long term, stocks have always been a good investment because they provide a return that is higher than most other types of investments.

 How much is the stock market worth?

The total value of the stock market is difficult to calculate because it changes constantly. However, the most recent estimate of the total value of the stock market is more than 40 million in United States currency.

This means that the stock market is worth more than the economies of all of the countries in the world except for the United States.

Do you lose money in the stock market?

An investor can lose money in the stock market if they invest in the wrong stocks. This means that an investor can lose all of the money that they have invested in the stock market.

Do I owe money if my stock goes down?

An investor does not owe any money if their stock goes down. This is because the price of a stock is always going to go up and down as investors buy and sell shares.

This means that an investor can lose money if they invest in the wrong stocks, but they will not owe any money to anyone if their stock goes down.

How do you make money on stocks?

The stock market can also be very risky because the prices of stocks can move up and down quickly. This means that an investor can make a lot of money if they invest in the right stocks, but they can also lose a lot of money if they invest in the wrong stocks.

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Sources

https://investedwallet.com/stock-market-statistics/

https://thepoorswiss.com/stock-market-facts/

https://finance.zacks.com/stock-market-figures-11373.html

https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/10/10/11-hard-to-believe-stock-market-facts/

https://spendmenot.com/blog/stock-market-statistics/

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Written by Anamika Balouria

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Bachelor of Education specializing in Secondary Education and Teaching, Master of Arts specializing in English

Anamika Balouria picture

Anamika BalouriaBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Bachelor of Education specializing in Secondary Education and Teaching, Master of Arts specializing in English

A dedicated and enthusiastic learner, Anamika is committed to the growth and development of her team and organization. She holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in English from Daulat Ram University and Indira Gandhi Institute for Open Learning respectively, as well as a Bachelor of Education from Amity University, Noida. Anamika is a skilled writer and editor with a passion for continual learning and development.
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Fact-checked by Shruti Thapa

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English

Shruti Thapa picture

Shruti ThapaBachelor of Arts specializing in English

With a passion for American, British, and children's literature, Shruti is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree at Garden City University, Bengaluru. Her fluency in Nepali, Hindi, and Mandarin demonstrates her linguistic abilities and global perspective. In addition to her literary pursuits, she has a keen interest in non-fiction literature, aesthetics, early childhood education, and Egyptian history. Shruti's research paper 'Bringing Art Illustrations In Education And Pop Culture' showcases her proficiency in these areas and her dedication to academic excellence.

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