Stock exchanges: NYSE, NASDAQ and the PSE
NYSE, NASDAQ, PSE: you hear these names whenever stocks come up. They are stock exchanges, the marketplaces where shares of companies are bought and sold.
Updated Nov 1, 2026
Basahin sa FilipinoWhat is a stock exchange?
A stock exchange is a marketplace for shares of companies. Buyers and sellers meet there, and the price is whatever they agree on, second by second.
A share is a tiny piece of a company. Own shares, and you own a small part of that business.
Jollibee share price (example): ₱230 You buy 10 shares → ₱2,300 The price rises 10%, to ₱253 → your 10 shares are worth ₱2,530
What are NYSE, NASDAQ and the PSE?
| Exchange | Where | Famous companies | Open (Manila time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYSE: New York Stock Exchange | USA | Coca-Cola, Walmart, JPMorgan | About 9:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. (10:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. outside US daylight saving) |
| NASDAQ | USA | Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Tesla | Same as NYSE |
| PSE: Philippine Stock Exchange | Philippines | Jollibee, SM, Ayala, BDO | Weekdays, about 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a lunch break |
Unlike crypto, stock exchanges close at night, on weekends and on holidays.
Why does a share price go up or down?
- Profits: a company earning more usually sees its price rise.
- News: a new product, a scandal or a new boss can move it in minutes.
- The economy: interest rates and inflation move whole markets.
- Supply and demand: more buyers than sellers pushes the price up.
Some companies also pay dividends: a share of their profit, in cash. ₱5 a year on a ₱230 share is about a 2.2% yearly dividend.
How are stocks different from crypto?
| Stocks | Crypto | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | A piece of a real company | A digital coin |
| Open | Weekdays, set hours | 24/7 |
| Typical daily move | About 1–2% | About 2–10% or more |
| Dividends | Some pay them | No |
| Rules | Strictly regulated (the SEC) | Lighter, depending on the country |
What is a board lot on the PSE?
On the PSE you buy shares in fixed bundles called board lots, not one at a time. The bundle size depends on the share price.
| Share price | Board lot | Smallest buy, at the lowest price |
|---|---|---|
| ₱0.50 to ₱4.99 | 1,000 shares | ₱500 |
| ₱5 to ₱49.95 | 100 shares | ₱500 |
| ₱50 to ₱999.50 | 10 shares | ₱500 |
| ₱1,000 and up | 5 shares | ₱5,000 |
US exchanges have no board lots: many apps even let you buy a fraction of one share.
What is a stock index, like the PSEi or the S&P 500?
An index is one number that tracks a group of big companies, so you can see how the whole market is doing at a glance.
| Index | Tracks |
|---|---|
| PSEi | 30 big Philippine companies |
| S&P 500 | 500 big US companies |
| NASDAQ Composite | Thousands of NASDAQ companies, heavy on tech |
"The PSEi is up 1% today" means those big Philippine companies rose about 1% on average.
Can I practise stocks on Tradeground?
Tradeground is focused on crypto right now. Most ideas carry over to stocks: buying and selling, profit and loss, fees, charts and good habits.