stock market

/ˌstɑk ˈmɑrkət/

/stɒk ˈmɑkɪt/

Other forms: stock markets

All the people in the world who buy and sell shares in companies make up the stock market. Just remember: buy low, sell high.

When a large company wants to raise money, one thing it can do is sell small shares of ownership in the form of stocks. The business that makes the buying and selling of these stocks possible is the stock market. You can talk about the worldwide stock market, or break it down into separate countries — there are currently about 60 separate stock markets operating. Individual shareholders participate in the stock market, as well as huge banks and investment groups.

Definitions of stock market

1. noun

   an exchange where security trading is conducted by professional stockbrokers
   synonyms: securities market, stock exchange

   examples:

   American Stock Exchange

   a stock exchange in New York

   Bourse

   the stock exchange in Paris

   New York Stock Exchange

   a stock exchange in New York

   types:

   curb market

   a stock market for trading in securities not listed on the New York Stock Exchange

   OTC market, over-the-counter market

   a stock exchange where securities transactions are made via telephone and computer rather than on the floor of an exchange

   type of:

   exchange

   a workplace for buying and selling; open only to members