World's Biggest Stock Exchanges

1. New York Stock Exchange: $21.79 trillion share trades

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is nicknamed the 'Big Board'. This is the largest stock exchange in the world by dollar volume with 2,764 listed securities. The NYSE originated on May 17, 1792.

2. NASDAQ: $11.81 trillion share trades

The NASDAQ is the acronym for National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. An American stock exchange, NASDAQ is the largest electronic screen-based equity securities trading market in the US. It is owned and operated by the NASDAQ OMX Group. NASDAQ came into being in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers. NASDAQ was the successor to the over-the-counter (OTC) and the 'Curb Exchange' systems of trading. As late as 1987, the NASDAQ exchange was commonly referred to as the OTC.

3. The London Stock Exchange: $7.57 trillion share trades

London Stock Exchange, or LSE, is located in London, England. It is part of the London Stock Exchange Group plc. One of the largest stock exchanges in the world, LSE was founded in 1801.The trade in shares in London began with the need to finance two voyages: The Muscovy Company's attempt to reach China via the White Sea north of Russia, and the East India Company voyage to India and the east. Unable to finance these costly journeys, the companies raised the money by selling shares to merchants, giving them a right to a portion of any profits eventually made.

4. Tokyo Stock Exchange: $5.82 trillion share trades

The Tokyo Stock Exchange, or TSE, located in Tokyo, Japan, is the second largest stock exchange in the world by market value, second to the New York Stock Exchange, but 4th in terms of worth of shares traded. It currently lists 2,271 domestic companies and 31 foreign companies. The Tokyo Stock Exchange was established on May 15, 1878, as the Tokyo Kabushiki Torihikijo under the direction of then Finance Minister Okuma Shigenobu and capitalist advocate Shibusawa Eiichi. Trading began on June 1, 1878. In 1943, the exchange was combined with 10 other stock exchanges in major Japanese cities to form a single Japanese Stock Exchange. The combined exchange was shut down and reorganised shortly after the bombing of Nagasaki.

5. Euronext: $3.85 trillion share trades
Euronext N.V. is a pan-European stock exchange based in Paris with subsidiaries in Belgium, France, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Portugal and the United Kingdom. In addition to equities and derivatives markets, the Euronext group provides clearing and information services.Not too long ago, Euronext merged with NYSE Group to form NYSE Euronext, the 'first global stock exchange'. Euronext was formed on September 22, 2000 in a merger of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, Brussels Stock Exchange, and Paris Bourse. In December 2001, Euronext acquired the shares of the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange, which continues to operate under its own governance.