Nothing can seem quite so intimidating as the stock exchange; a hotbed of wealth and commerce all converging in one place; fortunes won and lost; businesses built; and the economic viability of a nation awaiting the results.
The stock exchange can mean a variety of things for a variety of people. To understand the stock exchange you must understand its role in todays economy.
To begin with, the stock exchange offers corporations the opportunity to fund their operations and grow their business. The money made from investors who believe in the products and services offered by the business is used to finance growth; profits are passed onto the stock holders in the form of increased stock prices which they can use to realize a profit upon the sale of the stock. This opportunity to be traded on the public stock market – is only offered to businesses of a certain size. It can mean the difference between viability and failure for a business.
Of course, the bigger picture of all this buying, selling, and growth of corporations is the impact it has on the greater economy. A strong economy is dependent upon a viable and thriving stock exchange and the same can...