The stock market plays a significant role in the health of the economy. The economy has to be strong for its country and its citizens to prosper. The stock market appears in the news every day. You hear about it any time it reaches a new high or a new low, and you also hear about it daily in statements like "The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2 percent today, with advances leading declines by a margin of ..." Obviously, stocks and the stock market are important, but you may find that you know very little about them. What is a stock? What is a stock market? Where does the stock market come from to begin with, and why do people want to buy and sell it? If you have any questions like these, then this essay will open your eyes to a whole new world.

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