In 2025, ** percent of adults in the United States invested in the stock market. This figure has remained steady over the last few years and is still below the levels before the Great Recession, when it peaked in 2007 at ** percent. What is the stock market? The stock market can be defined as a group of stock exchanges where investors can buy shares in a publicly traded company. In more recent years, it is estimated an increasing number of Americans are using neobrokers, making stock trading more accessible to investors. Other investments A significant number of people think stocks and bonds are the safest investments, while others point to real estate, gold, bonds, or a savings account. Since witnessing the significant one-day losses in the stock market during the financial crisis, many investors were turning towards these alternatives in hopes for more stability, particularly for investments with longer maturities. This could explain the decrease in this statistic since 2007. Nevertheless, some speculators enjoy chasing the short-run fluctuations, and others see value in choosing particular stocks.

In 2024, 54 percent of the households in the United States owned shares in a mutual fund. This is a significant increase on the 5.7 percent recorded in 1980, but close to 52 percent found in 2022.Mutual fundsA mutual fund is a variety of collective investment vehicle managed professionally that pools money from many investors to purchase securities. They play an important role in household finances in the United States of today, most notably in retirement planning. It is commonly applied only to the forms of collective investment that are regulated and are sold to the public at large. The majority of mutual funds are what is known as ‘open-ended’, meaning that shares can be bought or sold at anytime. There are a number of advantages associated with mutual funds as opposed to direct investment in individual securities. The nature of the fund as a collective investment vehicle provides increased diversification and ease of comparison to investors. The fact that they are managed professionally, and that the investment is pooled, enables participation in investments that would normally only be available to larger investors. Mutual funds are also stable in price as daily liquidity ensures minimum loss of value. Despite several advantages, as with every aspect of investment, some disadvantages are to be considered. Fees are an inevitable part of a professionally managed fund, as is the inability to customize the investment. A common complaint is also that the investor has less control over the timing of the recognition of their gains.

Graph and download economic data for Households and Nonprofit Organizations; Directly and Indirectly Held Corporate Equities as a Percentage of Financial Assets; Assets, Level (BOGZ1FL153064486Q) from Q4 1945 to Q2 2025 about nonprofit organizations, equity, percent, households, assets, and USA.

In 2024, around **** million people in Germany owned stocks.The Allensbach Market and Advertising Media Analysis (Allensbacher Markt- und Werbeträgeranalyse or AWA in German) determines attitudes, consumer habits and media usage of the population in Germany on a broad statistical basis.

Graph and download economic data for Share of Corporate Equities and Mutual Fund Shares Held by the Top 1% (99th to 100th Wealth Percentiles) (WFRBST01122) from Q3 1989 to Q2 2025 about mutual funds, wealth, equity, percentile, corporate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Share of Corporate Equities and Mutual Fund Shares Held by the 90th to 99th Wealth Percentiles (WFRBSN09149) from Q3 1989 to Q2 2025 about mutual funds, wealth, equity, percentile, corporate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Share of Corporate Equities and Mutual Fund Shares Held by the Bottom 50% (1st to 50th Wealth Percentiles) (WFRBSB50203) from Q3 1989 to Q2 2025 about mutual funds, wealth, equity, percentile, corporate, and USA.

In 2025, stock markets in the United States accounted for roughly ** percent of world stocks. The next largest country by stock market share was China, followed by the European Union as a whole. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ are the largest stock exchange operators worldwide. What is a stock exchange? The first modern publicly traded company was the Dutch East Industry Company, which sold shares to the general public to fund expeditions to Asia. Since then, groups of companies have formed exchanges in which brokers and dealers can come together and make transactions in one space. Stock market indices group companies trading on a given exchange, giving an idea of how they evolve in real time. Appeal of stock ownership Over half of adults in the United States are investing money in the stock market. Stocks are an attractive investment because the possible return is higher than offered by other financial instruments.

The Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) is normally a triennial cross-sectional survey of U.S. families. The survey data include information on families' balance sheets, pensions, income, and demographic characteristics.

According to Cognitive Market Research, the Trading Software market size was USD XX million in 2024 and will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of XX% from 2024 to 2033. Market Dynamics Key Driver

Surge in retail investor participation is fueling the trading software market 

The rise in retail investor participation in the market is driving the demand for trading software. The driving forces behind the Retail Investor Boom are technology and accessibility, commission free trading software, social media influence, and financial literacy and awareness. The rising demand for trading software is mainly driven by the increasing demand for higher returns. • For instance, the number of demat accounts in India has seen a significant surge, reaching 179 million by October 2024, driven by increased awareness and adoption of equity investments, particularly among young investors. • In the last two years, approximately 30 million new retail investors opened brokerage accounts in United States. The percent of households with stock holdings increased to an all-time high of 58 percent as of 2022, according to the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances, up from 49 percent in 2013. Social media platforms have further fueled the demand for the trading software market. Retail investors are influenced by the Platforms such as Twitter, Reddit, and YouTube have created a community-driven investing culture, where retail traders share strategies, discuss stocks, and even coordinate market moves. (source- https://www.wsj.com/finance/stocks/stocks-americans-own-most-ever-9f6fd963) Technical Innovation is driving the market for trading software Advancements in technology have transformed trading software, enabling automation, real- time analytics and enhanced security. AI-powered insights have democratized finance, allowing anyone with a smartphone to participate in the stock market. Technology has enabled algorithmic trading systems to execute trades at high speeds leveraging automation to place orders, monitor markets, and execute complex strategies within milliseconds. For example, u Trade Algos provides users with capability to access their strategy ‘s historical performance accurately through precise historical data. Prior to engaging in live market trading, traders can conduct backtesting of their strategies to know their hypothetical performance. • For instance, the fusion of AI with crypto trading has given rise to AI crypto trading bots, which currently make up 60% of trading volumes on major exchanges. • AI-powered platforms like DeepSeek in China are being used to predict market movements and enhance decision-making.
The increase in technological advancement has enabled trading systems to execute trades in milliseconds. This speed has reduced transaction costs and enhanced market liquidity which has led to increase in demand for trading software. (source-https://www.debutinfotech.com/blog/what-are-ai-crypto-trading-bots)

Restraints

Cyber security Risks and Data Breaches

The increasing reliance on digital trading platforms has made them prime target for cyberattacks as these platforms handle large volumes of transactions and store sensitive financial data, breaches can lead to financial losses, identify theft, and loss of investor trust. The rising cases of data breaches are one of the prominent restraints in the market. Cybercriminals target trading platforms to steal funds, manipulate markets and disrupt services. • For instance, the collapse of FTX, a major trading platform, was partly due to internal mismanagement and security lapses that led to billions in investors losses. • In October 2022, the Binance exchange experienced hack after an unauthorized third party discovered a vulnerability in the cross-chain bride of system. By exploiting the flaw, the hacker was able to create and withdraw an extra two million Binance coins(BNB). Traders often fall victim to fake trading apps, scam emails, or fraudulent brokerages. Algorithmic trading all over the world has increased with increased penetration, low-cost trading platforms. Algorithmic trading and decentralised finance (DeFi) platforms rely on APIs and smart contracts, which can be ex...

Graph and download economic data for Share of Financial Assets Held by the Top 1% (99th to 100th Wealth Percentiles) (WFRBST01112) from Q3 1989 to Q2 2025 about wealth, percentile, financial, assets, and USA.

This dataset contains the predicted prices of the asset American Express Tokenized Stock (Ondo) over the next 16 years. This data is calculated initially using a default 5 percent annual growth rate, and after page load, it features a sliding scale component where the user can then further adjust the growth rate to their own positive or negative projections. The maximum positive adjustable growth rate is 100 percent, and the minimum adjustable growth rate is -100 percent.

Graph and download economic data for Share of Net Worth Held by the Top 0.1% (99.9th to 100th Wealth Percentiles) (WFRBSTP1300) from Q3 1989 to Q2 2025 about shares, net worth, wealth, percentile, Net, and USA.

As of December 31, 2021, U.S. multinational conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway owned a significant portion of some of the largest companies in the world. Their shares in Apple - with a market value of over *** billion U.S. dollars at this time - meant they owned *** percent of the company, while their Bank of America holding translated to an ownership stake of almost ** percent. Other household names in which Berkshire Hathaway holds a major stake include American Express, the Coca Cola Company, Chevron, General Motors, Mitsubishi, and Verizon.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the largest stock exchange in the world, with an equity market capitalization of almost ** trillion U.S. dollars as of November 2025. The following largest three exchanges were the NASDAQ, PINK Exchange, and the Frankfurt Exchange. 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.

Graph and download economic data for Rest of the World; Foreign Direct Investment in U.S.: Equity; Asset (Market Value), Level (BOGZ1FL263092141A) from 1945 to 2024 about FDI, market value, equity, assets, and USA.

Robinhood has commanded the ******* share of the retail investing market in the United States since at least early 2020, with its market share fluctuating between ********* and********* of the market over this period. For comparison, the next highest market share is held by Fidelity, with between **** and ***percent of the market. Robinhood is a smartphone-based app which allows retail investors to easily engage in commission-free share trading.

Graph and download economic data for Share of Net Worth Held by the Bottom 50% (1st to 50th Wealth Percentiles) (WFRBSB50215) from Q3 1989 to Q2 2025 about net worth, wealth, percentile, Net, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Assets: Securities Held Outright: U.S. Treasury Securities: All: Wednesday Level (TREAST) from 2002-12-18 to 2025-11-26 about maturity, Treasury, securities, and USA.

This statistic shows the direct investment position of the United States in China from 2000 to 2023, on a historical-cost basis. In 2023, the U.S. investments made in China were valued at 126.91 billion U.S. dollars. Direct investment position of the United States - additional information Foreign direct investment (FDI), simply put, is an investment of one company into another company located in a different country. It differs from a traditional way of investing into shares of foreign companies listed on a stock exchange. The companies which make foreign direct investment usually own a part of the company in which they invest and they have influence on the decision making process. In the United States, FDI is defined as an American investor (called the U.S. parent) owning a minimum of 10 percent of a foreign firm (known as a foreign affiliate). The total direct position of the United States abroad amounted to 6.68 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. Although the phenomenon profits greatly from the technological advances of the 21st century, as well as from the cultural flexibility of today’s workforce, FDI has a long history, going back to the colonial empires. Not without critics, FDI is generally believed to bring advantages to the investing company, such as access to new markets and decreased costs of labor, materials and production facilities. The local economy can benefit from an infusion of capital, access to new technologies and engagement of native labor pool. There are three recognized types of foreign direct investment, namely horizontal FDI, platform FDI and vertical FDI, along with various methods of implementing the investment itself. FDI considered by many one of the motors of worldwide economic growth. U.S. foreign investment abroad has seen a dramatic growth in the past decades. Multinational American corporations, especially focused on manufacturing, have largely invested in facilities overseas, due to financial benefits. However, a large share of these corporations focuses toward not only supplying the U.S. market, but also the local markets in which they operate. In 2020, the country that received the largest amount of U.S. foreign investment was the United Kingdom, with a little over one trillion U.S. dollars, followed by the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Overall, the total amount of U.S. dollars invested in European states in 2021 reached 3.98 trillion U.S. dollars compared to 2.25 trillion U.S. dollars a decade prior.