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