Market Basics
Stock Market
A broad term for the place where shares of public companies are bought and sold.
Also called: equity market, share market
What it means
The stock market is the system that allows investors to buy and sell ownership shares in publicly traded companies. It includes exchanges, brokers, electronic trading systems, and the rules that govern how trades happen.
Why it matters
Understanding the stock market helps users see that investing is about owning part of businesses, not just watching prices move on a screen.