The global stock markets offer a wealth of opportunities, with even the hardest to please investors able to find shares to satisfy their needs. Here you will find a selection of the top shares from each market, alongside some of the best sectors to consider.
Seeking access to the markets but don't know how to start? We have you covered with an introduction to various instruments you can use for share exposure, along with a host of learning guides for getting started, or a refresher.
- LSE
- U.S Stocks
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is a stock exchange located in the City of London, United Kingdom. Founded (in a more modern sense) in 1801, it is one of the world’s oldest stock exchanges and is currently the sixth-largest in the world by market capitalisation, trading an average of around £5 trillion annually.
As the end of 2023, the total market value of all companies trading on the LSE stood at £3.5 trillion.
Below you will find some of the most popular London listed shares, along with some of the top picks in the UK market by industry, or category.
Daily Movers – London Listed
The US stock markets are among the largest and most influential financial markets in the world, serving as a barometer for the global economy. These markets are where investors buy and sell shares of publicly traded companies, and they encompass a wide range of industries and sectors.
Key components of the US stock markets include major stock exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, as well as prominent indices like the Nasdaq 100, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), the S&P 500, NYSE composite, and the Russell 2000.
Top Stocks
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
The New York Stock Exchange, founded in 1792, is the largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalization. Located on Wall Street in New York City, the NYSE is known for its prestigious listings, including many of the largest and most well-established companies globally.
The exchange operates on a hybrid model, combining electronic trading with traditional floor trading, where designated market makers (DMMs) ensure liquidity and orderly trading.
NASDAQ
NASDAQ, an acronym for the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations, was established in 1971 as the world’s first electronic stock market. It has become the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization.
Unlike the NYSE, NASDAQ operates entirely electronically, providing a fast and efficient trading environment. NASDAQ is home to many of the world’s leading technology companies, including Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Amazon, making it a hub for innovation and growth.
Market Trends
Nasdaq 100
Daily Movers – Indices
International Markets
Africa
- JSE
- NGX
- NSE
Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange, located in Johannesburg, South Africa, is the largest and most developed stock exchange in Africa. Founded in 1887 during the Witwatersrand Gold Rush, the JSE has grown to list more than 400 companies from various sectors, including mining, finance, retail, and telecommunications.
The JSE operates both primary and secondary markets and offers a range of financial products such as equities, bonds, derivatives, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The JSE All Share Index (ALSI) is a key benchmark that tracks the overall performance of the exchange.
Nigerian Exchange (NGX)
The Nigerian Exchange, formerly known as the Nigerian Stock Exchange, is headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. Established in 1960, the NGX is one of the largest stock exchanges in Africa, facilitating the trading of stocks, bonds, and ETFs. The exchange lists over 160 companies from diverse sectors such as banking, telecommunications, agriculture, and oil and gas.
The NGX All-Share Index (NGX-ASI) serves as a primary indicator of market performance, reflecting the movement of listed stocks. The NGX has been instrumental in driving economic growth in Nigeria by providing a platform for capital raising and investment.
Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE)
The Nairobi Securities Exchange, located in Nairobi, Kenya, is one of the oldest stock exchanges in Africa, having been established in 1954. The NSE plays a crucial role in the Kenyan economy by facilitating the buying and selling of shares, bonds, and other securities. The exchange lists around 60 companies, with key sectors including banking, manufacturing, agriculture, and energy.
The NSE 20 Share Index is a widely followed benchmark that tracks the performance of the top 20 blue-chip companies on the exchange. The NSE is known for its efforts to enhance market accessibility and transparency, making it an attractive destination for both local and international investors.
Learn Stock Markets
Learning to invest or trade in stocks can be easier than you think. In this era of digitisation, you can freely access online resources like our very own Asktraders, alongside e-books, webinars and other training materials. Many are also opting to learn through social educators on Youtube or X (Twitter).
All that is before you even get to signing up for demo or paper trading accounts to learn as you go.
Investing in stocks is a very different mindset from trading, so you will want to be clear about how you intend to access the markets.
To buy stocks for the long-term as part of building a portfolio, you will want to focus on learning things such as valuation techniques, understanding the fundamentals that drive a company (and its share price), and the difference between dividend type stocks vs growth names.
If you're new to the financial markets and are interested in trading, it could take you a good few months to be comfortable with the various dynamics. The learning curve depends on factors like individual situations, approach or mindset that could either speed up or slow down the process but there are certain topics you will want to be familiar.
These include things such as technical analysis, candlestick patterns, leverage, trading strategies, support and resistance levels, along with a whole host of dynamics surrounding trading platforms and chart reading.
One of the more important trading lessons surrounding risk is having clear stop losses, and ensuring you stick to them.
We have a beginners guide on how to trade stocks that goes into far greater depth on getting started.
If you're familiar with the other asset classes and have traded or invested in the past, the adjustment to stocks is significantly more straight forward. Some shifts on resources and valuation methods between instruments are expected, but the fundamentals of how to begin remain broadly similar. In the end, it doesn't matter if you take a week or a year to learn enough to be comfortable, simply ensure that you work to your own schedule and consume as much information as you can.
While the resources can help you to efficiently learn about stock investing, and the markets, then there is the implementation that you should be worried about. Managing risk and emotions is where a majority of traders generally go wrong. If you're able to control emotions and implement what you learn, your journey in the stock markets will go better than most!
Before you begin, take a few minutes to check out some of the mistakes you might want to avoid on the video below.