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