The stock market is a location where businesses and individuals buy and sell shares of companies and benefit from the returns. As a shareholder, a person enjoys some amount of say over what happens in a company. This investor offers needed financial support to the company and in return benefits from the profits. The number of shareholders owning a company could range from just a few people to thousands- depending on the size and the financial requirements of the corporation. As a business grows, it requires adequate funds to reach its financial goals. When a company is in substantial growth period, it sells shares to the public to gain a stronghold in the market. Offering shares to the public has been a practice with many businesses since the early times.

Companies selling pieces of their business to the public is not a new idea. The financial markets have been a platform for buyers and sellers, where, ideally,both parties share a mutually profitable relationship. The stock market is like the financial backbone of a country- a location where shares of numerous companies are bought and sold. In the United States there are three major stock markets that play a crucial role in shaping the economy- the Nasdaq, the New York Stock Exchange and the American Stock Exchange.

Wall Street is one of the most important financial center in the United States. During the 17th century, long before New York City became what it is today, there was a high wall built as a defense against British attackers. When the wall came down the name of the street remained, Wall Street.

Even though we view Wall Street as the financial center of the United States, history has a different story to tell. You may not know that Boston was originally the countrys financial hub. Boston dealers played an active role in buying and selling various kinds of commodities as well as trading bonds for contracts such as bridges and canals. It is difficult to think of the financial hub of America as something other than Wall Street. However history clearly points to the importance of the Boston dealers in creating an active financial market, similar to the one found in Wall Street today.

Other countries similarly conducted their financial dealings through their own financial marketplaces. For example, the city of Paris carried out its economic pursuits on Rue de Quincampoix.

London’s stock market is an interesting tale in the history of finance. The stock exchange in London was originally an open market based on Exchange Alley. Jonathans Coffee House was the popular place where many London dealers conducted their financial activities. The Coffee House was later renamed The Stock Exchange.

Wall Street gradually picked up business through the years with varied kinds of dealers offering countless shares to the public. With time many new banks also began to operate in the market offering attractive deals such as treasury bonds.