The New York Stock Exchange, which is perhaps best known by the abbreviation “NYSE” is the biggest stock exchange in the world. And by quite a long way as well. Located in the city of New York, this stock market has a market capitalization of over $19 trillion, with over $150 billion traded on it every single day.
Before we get into the meat of this article, let’s get some of your most commonly asked questions out of the way:
- What is the New York Stock Exchange? It is the largest stock market in the United States.
- Is the New York Stock Exchange Open Today? If “today” is a weekday and not a holiday, then probably. See below for more details.
- What Time Does the New York Stock Exchange Open? The NYSE opens at 9:30am local time.
- What Time Does the New York Stock Exchange Close? The NYSE closes at 4:00pm local time.
- Where is the New York Stock Exchange Located? It is located on Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York.
- Is There a New York Stock Exchange App? There are many apps covering the NYSE markets in real time. These are available on Android and iOS.
What is the NYSE?
The NYSE is a stock market located in the city of New York. In simple terms, it is a market in which the stocks/shares of companies are traded. These companies include some of the biggest oil, gas and electric companies in the world, as well as some names that have helped to construct the modern United States, including everything from GE to Coca Cola.
It is the biggest market in the world and the most famous. Located on Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, it is the epitome of capitalism and the center of the economic world. The things that happen here have an affect on the economies of countries around the world.
Buy Shares in the NYSE
Usually, when the question of “how to buy shares in the NYSE” arises it’s because someone is looking to invest in this exchanges companies. But, as is the case with many other top exchanges, you can actually invest in the company that owns the NYSE. Intercontinental Exchange, a US company, is the current owner of the New York Stock Exchange and you can invest in them using the stock ticker ICE.
If you’re ready to make the leap and invest in this NYSE company or any other, then you need a broker. They will facilitate a purchase with the exchange and will ensure that the shares you buy are in your name, This will entirely you to buy and sell legally, and it will also ensure you get any dividends entitled to you.
You can also invest in the NYSE using a forex trading program. Typically used to trade in currencies, these programs also allow you to invest in companies listed on the biggest exchanges. To learn more about share trading brokers and forex software, visit our Online Trading page.
Of course, if you want to invest in the NYSE outside of the United States then you will need to jump through a few hoops. There are security checks, ID verifications and other things that can make the expense frustrating and tiresome. However, it’s all necessary and if you want to buy shares in the biggest companies around the world, it’s essential.
New York Stock Exchange Listings
There are over 2,400 NYSE listings. These generate over $150 billion in trading every single day the NYSE is open and they have a combined value of close to $20 trillion. This makes the NYSE by far the richest stock exchange in the world. It is a good three times bigger than the London Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ, and around either times bigger than the biggest China stock exchange.
One of the biggest companies on the NYSE is Exxon Mobil Corp., which trades under the stock ticker XOM and has consistently been ranked as the biggest company on the NYSE. Other giants include Walmart, Pfizer, Time Warner and General Electric. The owners of the stock exchange are also listed, using the ticker ICE.
New York Stock Exchange Indexes
A stock exchange index is essentially a “best-of”. It takes a selection of companies and compiles their valuations. If you invest in an index, you’re investing in the future of this collective. Because these are the biggest companies on the exchange, and because the value of such big companies hinges on the economic health of the country in which they trade, investing in an index is essentially a way of investing in that country’s economy.
All stock exchanges have these indexes. On the NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Composite is one of the main ones. In the London Stock Exchange they have the FTSE 100 and the FTSE 2000 (the 100 top companies and the 250 top companies respectively). The NYSE indexes include the NYSE Composite, which trades under the ticker NYA, and the Dow Jones Industrial, which is one of the biggest and most well known indexes in the world.
These indexes provide a great way for international traders o invest in the US stock market. Because by using forex programs like Plus500 (see our Plus500 Review) you can invest in such indexes wherever you are in the world, without needing to jump through all those hoops mentioned above.
A stock exchange index is essentially a “best-of” – BuySharesIn
New York Stock Exchange Hours
As stated at the outset of this guide, the New York Stock Exchange opens at 9:30am and closes at 4:00pm. These hours apply from Monday through to Friday, but the NYSE is always closed on Saturday and Sunday. It is also closed during many public holidays, as explained in our New York Stock Exchange holiday hours section below.
There are also extreme circumstances that can force the closure of the NYSE. Such was the case during the September 11th attacks, when it closed for four trading days. This is not something that is done lightly though, as closures during typical trading hours can have a hugely negative impact on the economy of the United States.
New York Stock Exchange Holidays
NYSE holidays are fairly easy to keep track of, because these holidays are also national holidays. This means the New York Stock Exchange is closed during New Years, Christmas, Thanksgiving—basically every public holiday except Veteran’s Day. This is also the case with the NASDAQ and indeed with most global stock exchanges.
Simply put, if the country is taking a holiday then the country’s finances are taking a holiday with it.