Exchange definition

An exchange is a centralised marketplace where financial instruments are bought and sold. It can be a physical trading floor or a digital platform, depending on the market and the asset class.

An exchange organises trading by matching buy and sell orders, publishing prices, setting market rules, and supporting transparent execution. Instruments traded on exchanges include shares, bonds, ETFs, commodities, futures, options, and cryptocurrencies.

An exchange is centralised, which separates it from the foreign exchange market, where currencies trade over the counter through a decentralised network of banks and brokers with no single venue. Organised exchanges include the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, and CME Group.

Exchange Example

You want to buy shares of Apple.

You place an order through a broker, and the broker routes it to an exchange such as Nasdaq.

If a seller is available at a matching price of USD 190, the exchange executes the trade and records USD 190 as the market price.