The stock market refers to the collection of markets and exchanges where activities of buying, selling, and issuance of shares of publicly-held companies occur. It is a place where buyers and sellers meet to trade stocks, which represent ownership in businesses. These can be securities listed on a public stock exchange, as well as equity that is privately traded.

In the stock market, companies raise capital by issuing stocks, which represent a claim on the company’s assets and earnings. Investors who buy these stocks become part-owners of the company. Stock markets are critical to economic development as they provide companies with access to capital in exchange for giving investors a slice of ownership. Notable stock markets include the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the London Stock Exchange (LSE), and the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE).

– Reference: [Investopedia: Stock Market](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/stockmarket.asp)