Guide Note

A stock market can be either a public space or a private market where shares of company stock or the derivatives of company stock are traded. The stocks traded are indexed by corporations that can expedite the bringing together of sellers and buyers. Some major U.S. indexes include: the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ and the S&P 500.

Fast Facts

1. Major European stock exchanges: London Stock Exchange, Deutsche Borse and Paris Bourse
2. Major Asian stock exchanges: Tokyo Stock Exchange, Bombay Stock Exchange and Hong Kong Stock Exchange

1. 1817: New York City brokers establish the New York Stock & Exchange Board¹
2. CEO: Duncan Niederauer
3. The NYSE is operated by NYSE Euronext
4. Nearly 4,000 companies listed¹

1. Established: 1971²
2. CEO: Robert Greifeld
3. Operated by NASDAQ OMX Group
4. 3,900 companies listed³

1. Established in 1957
2. Operated by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
3. 500 companies listed⁴