History

• The first United States stock exchange opened in Philadelphia in 1790.
  
  

Size

• In the beginning of October 2008, the world stock market was estimated to be worth $36.6 trillion.
  
  

Time Frame

• Though they likely were not called "stocks" at the time, it is believed that shares of ownership were traded as far back as 9,000 B.C.
  
  

Symbols

• The stock market symbol CASH belongs to First Midwest Financial, Inc. Lion Country Safari is identified by the symbol GRRR, and BOOT is the symbol for Lacrosse Footwear, Inc.
  
  

Geography

• From 1910 to 1976, Hawaii was home to the Honolulu Stock Exchange.
  
  

Fun Fact

• In the 1970s and 1980s, Indiana Limestone shares were publicly traded on the stock exchange. The company's main asset was 60 million cubic feet of rock.