Largest stock exchange operators worldwide 2024, by market capitalization

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the largest stock exchange in the world, with an equity market capitalization of over 28 trillion U.S. dollars as of March 2024. The following three exchanges were the NASDAQ, the Euronext, and the Japan Exchange Group. 

What is a stock exchange?

A stock exchange is a marketplace where stockbrokers, traders, buyers, and sellers can trade in equities products. The largest exchanges have thousands of listed companies. These companies sell shares of their business, giving the general public the opportunity to invest in them. The oldest stock exchange worldwide is the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, founded in the late sixteenth century. 

Other functions of a stock exchange

Since these are publicly traded companies, every firm listed on a stock exchange has had an initial public offering (IPO). The largest IPOs can raise billions of dollars in equity for the firm involved. Related to stock exchanges are derivatives exchanges, where stock options, futures contracts, and other derivatives can be traded.