Stock Brokers
Have you ever wondered what stock brokers do all day? Maybe you've thought about developing a career in the stock market or maybe you're simply interested in learning more about the stock market and how it works.
You may be interested to know that the Hollywood portrayal of the successful stock broker is not so far from reality. The world of stocks is undeniably exciting and offers brokers and investors new investment opportunities every day. You can also make or break your fortune in stocks. But how do stock exchanges operate and what does the role of the stock broker entail?
In the United States, the three largest and most well known stock exchanges are the American Stock Exchange (AMEX), the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASDAQ) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). You may also have heard of famous international exchanges such as the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange.
One stock exchange alone can have thousands of companies on its books, which trade their stock every day. The New York Stock Exchange has approximately 3000 companies offering over 236 billion shares. If you want to purchase shares in any of these companies, you can go to the New York Stock Exchange and do so.
However, most people are unable to take a trip to New York every time they want to purchase shares. This is where the role of the stock broker comes in. A stock broker will purchase shares on behalf of a customer and will receive a commission fee for his services. A stock broker may base himself at the exchange or operate a computer with a link to the exchange where he can purchase stocks on behalf of several clients at any one time.
Some stock brokers work independently or run small firms. However, many others are employed by large stock brokerage firms such as Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch, which offer a range of financial services and investment advice. A successful broker needs to have a sound understanding of how the stock market operates and be up to date with all the latest stocks and investment opportunities.
For more infomation on understanding the stock market choose from the list below. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Banking - Business Finances - Economics - Insurance - Investing
Major Purchases - Personal Finances - Stock Market - Taxes
|
