Get Familiar With Stock Exchanges And How They Work

The markets act the crucial role of facilitating issue and redemption of bonds and the payment of dividend and income. Some of the securities bought and sold on the stock market are bonds, unit trusts, pooled investment assets, and derivatives, all of which are listed by companies of all sizes. It also raises capital for business, directs savings for investments and measures the economy.

Simplified, a stock exchange is like a ‘never-ending auction’ market with traders discharging transactions at a central point of record keeping. Over the years, online stockbroking has grown popular, thanks to online brokerage firms like CMC Markets. Carrying out trades online has its own share of outstanding advantages such as increased speed and reduced transaction cost. A company’s securities can only qualify to be bought and sold on an exchange after it has made the initial public offering (IPO) also called ‘primary market’ and shares get into the hands of public shareholders (secondary market). During an IPO, a company sells its shares to the primary market (initial set of public shareholders).

The stock price is determined from the flow of its orders as tracked and recorded by the exchange. This flow of orders is more like supply and demand. Let us say the ‘bid price’ on a share is $100, it means that there is a trader telling the stock exchange that they want to buy the stock for $100. If at the same time the ‘ask price’ is $102, it means someone else is ready to sell the stock for $102. The difference between the two prices is the ‘bid-ask spread.’

These Are The Major Exchanges In The Sector

NYSE Euronext

In terms of both exchange trade value and exchange market capitalization, NYSE Euronext is the largest exchange. After the prestigious exchange secured Archipelago in 2006 and Euronext in 2007, it went public. It is auction-based, meaning there are physical specialists present, who specialize in particular type of stocks. To be listed on the exchange, companies must meet initial requirements and follow rules and regulations governing the market.

Nasdaq (Electronic Exchange)

The Nasdaq, also known as ‘screen-based exchange’ is an electronic exchange with buyers and sellers connected by computers and smartphones over a telecommunications network. Market makers are required to post their ‘ask’ and ‘bid’ prices then stay ready to buy and sell the stocks.

Nasdaq and NYSE have similar governance and listing demands like both require a $4 minimum price.

Tokyo Exchange

Tokyo stock exchange is considered to be the third-largest stock market and the biggest non-public-traded exchange. The market is a joint stock corporation whose shares are closely held by member corporations like banks and brokerage firms.

The fourth largest stock exchange market is a public traded company and its parent is the London Stock Exchange Group.

Hong Kong stock exchange

Like Hong Kong Futures Exchange and Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company, it is a dependency of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; a publicly traded company.

Shangai Stock Exchange

The exchange, which exists as a non-profit organization, is the world’s largest stock market to be under the ownership and jurisdictions of the government. It is run by the China Securities Regulatory Commission. The market has a reputation for strictness when it comes to listing requirements.

Other Exchanges

Over-the-counter (OTC) markets. OTC lists small corporations. Investors shy off from OTC stocks because it is known that most companies in the OTC have been delisted from Nasdaq.

Electronic communication networks (ECN). These trading systems link buyers and sellers directly.
For stocks to be traded, they must be listed on an exchange market.

• Yahoo Finance [ Android | iPhone ] – most popular option on the Internet to track stocks.
• JStock – Android stock tracking app.
• Stock Tracker – iPhone and iPad app to track stocks
• Stock Market HD – iPhone and iPad app for stock tracking.