A stock market is a place or platform in which companies can offer equity for trading to others. There are many stock markets across the globe today, and that number is only growing. The following markets, however, represent the largest and most important across the many markets out there right now.
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New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE as it’s referred to across much of the business world, is a foremost stock exchange encompassing what’s estimated to be about 1/3 of all global equity trades. The NYSE is also estimated to handle more total value in its exchange than any other exchange in the world. Started in 1792, this is the market that utilizes the famous “ringing of the bell” to mark the beginning and end of each trading day.
Tokyo Stock Exchange
Japan’s Tokyo Stock Exchange, or TSE, is another heavy-hitter in the ever-growing world of exchanges today. The TSE is the largest exchange in all of Japan, but it also comes in second, just behind the New York Stock Exchange, in terms of the total value traded on its blocks each year. In tandem with numerous, other stock exchanges around the world, the TSE was first opened in 1878 and now trades around 2,000 company equities therein.
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange, or LSE as it’s known in the business world, provides a major exchange platform for over 3,000 companies today. This exchange was founded in 1801 and is widely considered to be the most internationally-diverse exchange due to the diversity of the origins of its thousands of participating trading companies. The LSE was originally called the “Stock Exchange of Great Britain and Ireland” but later absorbed the Milan Stock Exchange and has since become known by its current name.
Hong Kong Stock Exchange
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is based out of Hong Kong, China and carries the trading efforts of around 1,500 different companies. Originally billed as the Association of Stockbrokers in Hong Kong in 1891, the HKSE later became known by its current name after the absorption of numerous, other Chinese exchanges that came about in in later times. As of 2017, this exchange operates completely virtually, without no actual, physical trading floor.
Shanghai Stock Exchange
Finally, the Shanghai Stock Exchange, or SSE for short, represents another of the top, five, most significant exchanges of today. This one, based in China, is very young, having only just opened in 1990. Despite serving as the youth on scene, this exchange has rapidly risen to a top-five leader, carrying the trading action of approximately 1,500 companies. It should be noted, however, that this exchange has seen participation limitations in recent times due to rules on the citizenship of participating traders.
Stock markets serve as the world’s important equity trading places for countless businesses and individuals alike. Among the many exchange platforms out there right now, there are five that serve as the biggest powerhouses on the globe. Per the experts at Investopedia and elsewhere, these five, above-mentioned top stock market exchanges represent those top players in the game.
Sources Cited
https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/1212/stock-exchanges-around-the-world.aspx
