The stock market is a place where you can buy and sell stocks and shares. The term "stock market" refers to an organized trading of securities. A security is a contract that is assigned a value and then traded. The stock market is one of the most important areas of the market economy because it provides company's access to capitol and investors. In return the companies give their investors a chance of gains or profit based on their future financial successes. There are three main stock markets in the United States, also known as stock exchanges.

The NASDAQ stock market, which was created in 1971, was the first electronic stock market in the world. NASDAQ stands for, National Association Of Security Dealers Automated Quotation and is located through a telecommunications network. In other words there is not an actual physical place where you are able to see NASDAQ because it's connected electronically to the companies it represents.

The NYSE or New York Stock Exchange; unlike the NASDAQ they use floor traders to make the trades. It is managed by a group of directors who are responsible for the conduct of their members; overseeing and setting the procedures and policies of the NYSE.

The AMEX stock market, which stands for American Stock Exchange, is the third largest stock exchange based on its trading volume in the United States. AMEX handles 10% of the securities that are traded in the United States.

The stock market also issues and trades stocks and shares through OTC, over the counter markets, also known as the equity market. The OTC markets most commonly list small companies and their stocks. Companies that have been dropped by the NASDAQ stock market due to instability within the company and their stocks can often be found at the OTC markets. There are two OTC markets; the first is the OTCBB, which stands for Over The Counter Bulletin Board and Pink Sheets.

These markets give the opportunity to investors to own shares in publicly traded companies. They provide 2 ways to profit from the markets; through dividends or capitol gains.

When a company increases its capitol assists this intern produces a capitol gain. This increase will drive up the value of the company's shares. An investor makes money on the difference between the price they paid and the increased value of the share.

The payment of a part of the company's earnings is called a dividend. The board of directors make the decision which shares the dividend is paid on; rewarding these investors for risking their money. The dividend can be paid either in cash, property or stock.

Being a shareholder you become one of the many owners of a company. This gives you the right to a claim on all the company owns. You are entitled to a share in the company profits as well as the right to vote dependant if the stocks you have purchased through the stack market have voting rights included. The more stocks you own the more of the company you own and the more you can earn from the companies earnings.

There are 2 types of shares an investor can purchase; Common and Preferred shares. A common share has little preference with a company; for example should they decide to go into liquidation or become bankrupt the owners of common shares will not receive any capitol back until the creditors and preferred share holders are paid. Preferred share holders have this benefit however they do not have voting rights.

The stock market is a difficulty animal to understand; it can take a long time to grasp all the little quirks involved. By braking down the different section of the markets and focusing on understanding them individually it becomes much easier to grasp. Do not be daunted and take it a step at a time and you should master the markets.