Foundations
The essential building blocks every investor needs to understand before anything else.
01
What is the Stock Market?
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The stock market is where buyers and sellers trade shares of publicly listed companies. Here is how it works and why it exists.
02
What is a Stock?
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A stock represents a small piece of ownership in a company. Here is what that means and why people buy them.
03
What is a Shareholder?
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A shareholder is anyone who owns at least one share of a company. Here is what that means in practice.
04
What is a Bond?
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A bond is a loan you give to a company or government in exchange for regular interest payments. Here is how it works.
05
What is a Market Cap?
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Market cap tells you how much the market thinks a company is worth. It is one of the most useful numbers in investing.
06
What is an Index?
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A stock market index tracks the performance of a group of companies. Here is what that means and why it matters.
07
What is the S&P 500?
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The S&P 500 is the most widely followed stock market index in the world. Here is what it tracks and why it matters.
08
What is the Dow Jones?
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The Dow Jones is one of the oldest and most recognisable stock market indexes in the world. Here is what it actually tracks.
09
What is the Nasdaq?
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The Nasdaq is a stock exchange and an index heavily associated with technology companies. Here is what makes it different.
10
What is a Stock Exchange?
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A stock exchange is the marketplace where shares are bought and sold. Here is how it works and why it exists.
11
Who Regulates the Market?
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Financial markets are overseen by regulators whose job is to protect investors and keep markets fair. Here is who they are and what they do.
12
What is a Broker?
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A broker is the intermediary between you and the stock market. Here is what brokers do and how to think about choosing one.
13
What is a Brokerage Account?
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A brokerage account is where your investments live. Here is what it is, how it works, and what to expect when opening one.
14
What Types of Accounts Exist?
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Not all investment accounts work the same way. Here is a plain-English breakdown of the main types and what each one is for.
15
What is a Portfolio?
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A portfolio is the collection of all your investments. Here is what that means and why thinking in terms of a portfolio matters.