Exchange
An organized marketplace where buyers and sellers trade securities. NYSE and NASDAQ are the two largest US stock exchanges.
An exchange is a regulated marketplace where securities are listed and traded. Exchanges provide price discovery, liquidity, and a transparent record of transactions.
Major global exchanges include the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange), NASDAQ, London Stock Exchange (LSE), Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), and Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). Each has its own listing requirements and trading rules.
Electronic communication networks (ECNs) and dark pools also match buyers and sellers outside traditional exchanges, but regulated exchanges remain the primary price-discovery mechanism for most equities.
Related Terms
Broker
An intermediary who executes buy and sell orders on your behalf. Modern brokers are typically electronic platforms.
BeginnerLiquidity
How easily you can enter or exit a position without moving the price. High liquidity = tight spreads, deep order books, fast fills.
BeginnerTicker Symbol
The unique letter code that identifies a publicly traded security on an exchange — AAPL for Apple, TSLA for Tesla.
BeginnerVolume
Total number of shares (or contracts) traded in a given period. Volume confirms price moves — no volume, no conviction.
Beginner