What is stock market?

Someone ask: What is stock market?

Caveman say stock market is big trading camp where pieces of company get bought and sold. A stock is tiny share of a business, like owning one rock from giant pile. If many tribe think company will grow strong and make more goods, they pay more for that share. If tribe fear trouble, price falls. Stock market helps companies get fire and tools by selling shares, and helps people join in gains or losses if company does well or bad. Prices move because of hope, fear, news, and many traders shouting in same wind. Cave wisdom: stock market is place where belief about future gets turned into price today.