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 value of the DJIA index amounted to ****** at the end of June 2025, up from ********* at the end of March 2020. Global panic about the coronavirus epidemic caused the drop in March 2020, which was the worst drop since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008. Dow Jones Industrial Average index – additional information The Dow Jones Industrial Average index is a price-weighted average of 30 of the largest American publicly traded companies on New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, and includes companies like Goldman Sachs, IBM and Walt Disney. This index is considered to be a barometer of the state of the American economy. DJIA index was created in 1986 by Charles Dow. Along with the NASDAQ 100 and S&P 500 indices, it is amongst the most well-known and used stock indexes in the world. The year that the 2018 financial crisis unfolded was one of the worst years of the Dow. It was also in 2008 that some of the largest ever recorded losses of the Dow Jones Index based on single-day points were registered. On September 29, 2008, for instance, the Dow had a loss of ****** points, one of the largest single-day losses of all times. The best years in the history of the index still are 1915, when the index value increased by ***** percent in one year, and 1933, year when the index registered a growth of ***** percent.

China's main stock market index, the SHANGHAI, fell to 3898 points on December 2, 2025, losing 0.42% from the previous session. Over the past month, the index has declined 1.98%, though it remains 15.36% higher than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks this benchmark index from China. China Shanghai Composite Stock Market Index - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on December of 2025.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) index dropped around ***** points in the four weeks from February 12 to March 11, 2020, but has since recovered and peaked at ********* points as of November 24, 2024. In February 2020 - just prior to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the DJIA index stood at a little over ****** points. U.S. markets suffer as virus spreads The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a turbulent period for stock markets – the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also recorded dramatic drops. At the start of February, some analysts remained optimistic that the outbreak would ease. However, the increased spread of the virus started to hit investor confidence, prompting a record plunge in the stock markets. The Dow dropped by more than ***** points in the week from February 21 to February 28, which was a fall of **** percent – its worst percentage loss in a week since October 2008. Stock markets offer valuable economic insights The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a stock market index that monitors the share prices of the 30 largest companies in the United States. By studying the performance of the listed companies, analysts can gauge the strength of the domestic economy. If investors are confident in a company’s future, they will buy its stocks. The uncertainty of the coronavirus sparked fears of an economic crisis, and many traders decided that investment during the pandemic was too risky.

United Kingdom's main stock market index, the GB100, fell to 9690 points on December 2, 2025, losing 0.13% from the previous session. Over the past month, the index has declined 0.12%, though it remains 15.91% higher than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks this benchmark index from United Kingdom. United Kingdom Stock Market Index (GB100) - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on December of 2025.

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.

The value of global domestic equity market increased from ***** trillion U.S. dollars in 2013 to ****** trillion U.S. dollars in 2024. The United States was by far the leading country with the largest share of total world stocks as of 2024. Global market capitalization in different regions The market capitalization of domestic companies listed varied across different regions of the world. As of Decmber 2024, the Americas region had the largest domestic equity market, totaling ** trillion U.S. dollars. This region is home to the NYSE and Nasdaq, which are the two largest stock exchange operators in the world. The market capitalization of these two exchanges alone exceeded ** billion U.S. dollars as of January 2025, larger than the total market capitalization in the Asia-Pacific, and in the EMEA regions in the same period. Largest Stock Exchanges in Latin America As of December 2024, the B3 (Brasil Bolsa Balcao) was the biggest stock exchange in Latin America in terms of market capitalization and the second-largest in terms of number of listed companies. Following the B3 were the Mexican Stock Exchange and the Santiago Stock Exchange in Chile. The most valuable company in Latin America is listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange: Fomento Económico Mexicano, a multinational beverage and retail company headquartered in Monterrey, had a market cap of *** billion U.S. dollars as of March 2025.

Prices for Global Equity Index including live quotes, historical charts and news. Global Equity Index was last updated by Trading Economics this December 2 of 2025.

While the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused all major stock market indices to fall sharply in March 2020, both the extent of the decline at this time, and the shape of the subsequent recovery, have varied greatly. For example, on March 15, 2020, major European markets and traditional stocks in the United States had shed around ** percent of their value compared to January *, 2020. However, Asian markets and the NASDAQ Composite Index only shed around ** to ** percent of their value. A similar story can be seen with the post-coronavirus recovery. As of November 14, 2021 the NASDAQ composite index value was around ** percent higher than in January 2020, while most other markets were only between ** and ** percent higher. Why did the NASDAQ recover the quickest? Based in New York City, the NASDAQ is famously considered a proxy for the technology industry as many of the world’s largest technology industries choose to list there. And it just so happens that technology was the sector to perform the best during the coronavirus pandemic. Accordingly, many of the largest companies who benefitted the most from the pandemic such as Amazon, PayPal and Netflix, are listed on the NADSAQ, helping it to recover the fastest of the major stock exchanges worldwide. Which markets suffered the most? The energy sector was the worst hit by the global COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, oil companies share prices suffered large declines over 2020 as demand for oil plummeted while workers found themselves no longer needing to commute, and the tourism industry ground to a halt. In addition, overall share prices in two major stock exchanges – the London Stock Exchange (as represented by the FTSE 100 index) and Hong Kong (as represented by the Hang Seng index) – have notably recovered slower than other major exchanges. However, in both these, the underlying issue behind the slower recovery likely has more to do with political events unrelated to the coronavirus than it does with the pandemic – namely Brexit and general political unrest, respectively.

Japan's main stock market index, the JP225, rose to 49553 points on December 2, 2025, gaining 0.51% from the previous session. Over the past month, the index has declined 3.78%, though it remains 26.25% higher than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks this benchmark index from Japan. Japan Stock Market Index (JP225) - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on December of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Stock Market Total Value Traded to GDP for United States (DDDM02USA156NWDB) from 1975 to 2019 about market cap, stock market, trade, GDP, and USA.

Key information about Iran TEDPIX

• Iran TEDPIX closed at 2,084,535.0 points in Sep 2023, compared with 2,104,684.0 points at the previous month end
• Iran Index: Tehran Stock Exchange: TEDPIX data is updated monthly, available from Sep 1997 to Sep 2023, with an average number of 18,011.0 points
• The data reached an all-time high of 2,479,340.0 points in Apr 2023 and a record low of 1,517.0 points in Aug 1998

Tehran Stock Exchange provides monthly data on 5 major stock market indices, but the All Share Price TEDPIX index is the one most closely monitored by analysts. Prior to July 2011, TEDPIX Index name was TEPIX which excluded the cash dividends.


Further information about Iran TEDPIX

• In the latest reports, TSE recorded a monthly P/E ratio of 7.9 in Sep 2023

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.

Key information about India Sensitive 30 (Sensex)

• India Sensitive 30 (Sensex) closed at 85,706.7 points in Nov 2025, compared with 83,938.7 points at the previous month end
• India Equity Market Index: Month End: BSE: Sensitive 30 (Sensex) data is updated monthly, available from Apr 1979 to Nov 2025, with an average number of 2,987.7 points
• The data reached an all-time high of 85,706.7 points in Nov 2025 and a record low of 115.6 points in Nov 1979

[COVID-19-IMPACT]


Further information about India Sensitive 30 (Sensex)

• In the latest reports, SENSEX recorded a daily P/E ratio of 23.2 in Dec 2025

Key information about Turkey BIST National 100

• Turkey BIST National 100 closed at 116,524.8 points in Jun 2020, compared with 105,520.5 points at the previous month end
• Turkey Equity Market Index: Month End: TRY: BIST National 100 data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1986 to Jun 2020, with an average number of 11,510.0 points
• The data reached an all-time high of 119,528.8 points in Jan 2018 and a record low of 1.0 points in Jan 1986

In line with the 'Removal of Two Zeros from Equity Indices” project, starting with July 27, 2020, BIST removed 2 zeros from the stock indices calculated in Turkish Liras (TRY). Therefore, the base values of these indices were divided by 100. Borsa Istanbul provides daily data on 11 major stock market indices, but the BIST National 100 index is the one most closely monitored by analysts.


Further information about Turkey BIST National 100

• In the latest reports, Borsa Istanbul recorded a monthly P/E ratio of 17.0 in Nov 2025

Key information about China Shanghai Shenzhen 300

• China Shanghai Shenzhen 300 closed at 4,526.7 points in Nov 2025, compared with 4,640.7 points at the previous month end
• China Equity Market Index: Month End: Shanghai Shenzhen 300 data is updated monthly, available from Apr 2005 to Nov 2025, with an average number of 3,816.7 points
• The data reached an all-time high of 5,688.5 points in Oct 2007 and a record low of 856.0 points in May 2005

Further information about China Shanghai Shenzhen 300

• In the latest reports, Shanghai Stock Exchange recorded a daily P/E ratio of 16.1 in Dec 2025

Israel's main stock market index, the TA-125, rose to 3538 points on December 2, 2025, gaining 1.75% from the previous session. Over the past month, the index has climbed 4.40% and is up 50.06% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks this benchmark index from Israel. Israel Stock Market (TA-125) - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on December of 2025.

Iran Market Capitalization: Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) data was reported at 1,743.023 USD bn in Sep 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,761.129 USD bn for Aug 2023. Iran Market Capitalization: Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) data is updated monthly, averaging 105.978 USD bn from Dec 2005 (Median) to Sep 2023, with 199 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,991.152 USD bn in May 2023 and a record low of 33.814 USD bn in Jun 2007. Iran Market Capitalization: Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Tehran Stock Exchange. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iran – Table IR.Z002: Tehran Stock Exchange: Market Capitalization. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Key information about Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Composite Index

• Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Composite Index closed at 707.8 points in Oct 2025, compared with 701.0 points at the previous month end
• Uzbekistan Equity Market Index: Month End: Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan Composite Index data is updated monthly, available from Aug 2016 to Oct 2025, with an average number of 793.3 points
• The data reached an all-time high of 1,443.5 points in Feb 2021 and a record low of 329.8 points in Jan 2019

Republican Stock Exchange 'Toshkent' provides monthly Composite Index

As of September 2025, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq - the two largest stock exchange operators in the United States - held a combined market capitalization for domestic listed companies of over ** trillion U.S. dollars. Both markets were almost evenly sized at this point in time - at approximately **** and **** trillion U.S. dollars, respectively. However, the Nasdaq has grown much quicker than the NYSE since January 2018, when their respective domestic market caps were ** and ** trillion U.S. dollars. Much of this can be attributed to the success of information technology stocks during the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as the Nasdaq is the traditional venue for companies operating in the tech sector.