The history of the stock market – how did it all start?
From utterly unfamiliar with finance to the most expert in the field, everyone has heard the most used stock market concept. But how did we get here? Where and when did the stock market start?
It was not in New York, nor London, nor in Tokyo. The concept of the stock exchange was born in Belgium in the 16th century. More specifically, in Bruges. In a building owned by the noble Van der Buërse family, important economic transactions were carried out.
The first official stock exchange
It was not until 1602 when the first official stock exchange was established. It was the Amsterdam stock exchange, today the oldest in the world. The Dutch East India Company founded it, and it was the first to function as the current stock market (buying and selling of shares).
The company’s power was great and widespread. It controlled all business between the Netherlands and Asia. The objective of founding the exchange was to be able to raise funds for future business trips.
In this way, little by little, the stock market grew and became popular in other countries, giving rise to New York (1792), Paris (1794), and Tokyo (1878) stock exchanges, among others.
The ten biggest stock exchanges in the world
Now that we know the origin of the stock market, it is time to ask ourselves: what is its current disposition? According to the Stock Market Institute, these are the ten largest stock exchanges in the world today:
- New York Stock Exchange (US)
- NASDAQ (US)
- Tokyo Stock Exchange
- London Stock Exchange
- Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- Shanghai Stock Exchange
- Toronto Stock Exchange
- Deutsche Börse
- Australian Securities Exchange
- Bombay Stock Exchange
In them, shares and bonds, subscription rights, warrants, ETFs, certificates, and other products are traded and exchanged.
