| When people think of the history of the stock | | | | agreement to organize this exchange was formed. |
| market the first thing they tend to think about is the | | | | Today the NYSE lists over 2,700 securities and is the |
| stock market crash of 1929. The history of the | | | | world's largest stock exchange by dollar volume, |
| stock encompasses a much broader range of events | | | | though it is the fourth largest in terms of company |
| and place though. For example, throughout the world, | | | | listings. |
| investors watch everything from the London Stock | | | | The American Stock Exchange (AMEX) is a |
| Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, to the | | | | member-owned organization that was established in |
| Bombay Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. | | | | 1842, and was known as the New York Curb |
| Early American trading history starts in the late 18th | | | | Exchange until 1929. AMEX started out like many |
| century with stock brokers meeting outdoors at the | | | | other markets at the time, outdoors on the curb. It |
| curb (thus they were known as curb brokers) to | | | | wasn't until 1921 that the American Stock Exchange |
| trade amongst themselves. Often braving the | | | | moved indoors in Manhattan. Today, the building is a |
| elements such as the wind and rain, as trading | | | | National Historic Landmark. |
| activity grew stock brokers developed a system of | | | | The National Association of Securities Dealers |
| hand signals so that brokers could make trades as | | | | Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) is another |
| the activity and noise levels grew. | | | | American stock exchange established in 1971. An |
| This system of hand signals has become an iconic | | | | interesting note regarding NASDAQ is that the |
| part of Wall Street, with the common public image of | | | | company that owns and operates the whole |
| brokers screaming on the floor, frantically waving | | | | organization is itself publicly traded and is listed on the |
| hand signals. | | | | very stock exchange they manage. |
| The London Stock Exchange started in 1698 and was | | | | The NASDAQ is considered to be the first electronic |
| the very first exchange to begin. This exchange | | | | stock market. Today it is known for having several |
| began in a coffee house and included a simple list of | | | | high tech companies listed. This network of exchange |
| stock and the prices of the commodities. Today, this | | | | has surpassed the NYSE making it the largest in the |
| exchange has over 2,500 companies in over 55 | | | | world. The NASDAQ is also the world's largest stock |
| countries. | | | | exchange in terms of trading volume. |
| The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) was | | | | With so many stock markets to keep track of and |
| developed in 1792 and is the first exchange in | | | | deal with, it is little wonder that new investors often |
| America. This exchange included dozens of | | | | hunt for reliable stock tips for investing. The basics |
| stockbrokers who had a new idea for organizing the | | | | don't take too long to learn, but becoming an expert |
| chaos of trading stocks that currently existed. In an | | | | may require a little one-on-one training. |