| The first continuous trading on a stock | | | | of its unique features compared to the |
| exchange was done in the 17th century in | | | | traditional stocks trading. |
| Amsterdam. Prior to this, in 13th century | | | | |
| France, product traders used to meet in a | | | | Online stock market investments are easier to |
| house which they later called "Bruges | | | | do because if a buyer or seller decides to do |
| Bourse". Nowadays, stock markets can be found | | | | online trading, he does not have to pay a |
| in most countries but the biggest markets can | | | | stock broker anymore. Stock brokers can |
| be found in the United States, Japan, China, | | | | charge up to as much as $100 per trade, while |
| and the United Kingdom. | | | | online stock market brokers can charge as low |
| | | | as $10 per trade. Online stock market trading |
| Long before the advent of online stock market | | | | allows investors to do all transactions in |
| investments, trading was done by individual | | | | front of the computer. An online stock market |
| buyers and sellers. These are business | | | | investor can also check and manage with his |
| persons who do their own trading activities. | | | | stock portfolio in real time using a |
| Later on, as market participants in the stock | | | | computer. Several online stock trading |
| market increased, stock brokers began to | | | | companies have opened their websites to cater |
| represent individuals and other big firms who | | | | to the demands of their increasing clientele. |
| are interested to buy stocks. A wealthy | | | | |
| businessman has his own set of stock brokers | | | | Online stock market investing has made the |
| representing his business interest in the | | | | business of trading easier, faster, and |
| world's big stock markets. Brokerage houses | | | | cheaper. An investor who does online trading |
| were then established to cater to the | | | | will not need to call his broker to conduct |
| increasing demands of the trend. These big | | | | business. All he has to do is go the stock |
| firms are called brokerage houses and | | | | broker's website and indicate the stocks he |
| examples include Morgan Stanley, Merrill | | | | wants to buy or sell and these orders will be |
| Lynch, and Charles Schwab. | | | | processed in real time. |
| | | | |
| Due to the Internet's capacity to connect | | | | These online stock market brokers or stock |
| many people from different places at the same | | | | market websites, as they are called, also |
| time, the process of buying and selling | | | | contains a lot of additional services in |
| stocks has become faster, easier and less | | | | their websites. They can provide online stock |
| expensive. Online stock market investments | | | | market traders with stock market information, |
| have been availed by many investors because | | | | and other relevant insights. |