Equity markets operate on exchanges across every continent, each with distinct characteristics.

Americas: - NYSE & NASDAQ (US): World's largest by market cap — home to Apple, Microsoft, Amazon. NYSE lists many blue-chip industrials; NASDAQ is tech-heavy. - TSX (Canada): Toronto Stock Exchange — dominated by financials, energy, and mining.

Europe: - LSE (London): UK's primary exchange; FTSE 100 includes multinationals like Shell and HSBC. - Euronext (Europe): Pan-European exchange operating in Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Lisbon, Dublin, and Oslo. - Deutsche Börse / Xetra (Germany): Home of DAX — German industrial and automotive giants.

Asia-Pacific: - TSE (Japan): Tokyo Stock Exchange — Nikkei 225 tracks Japan's top blue chips. - SSE & SZSE (China): Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges — A-shares (mainland China investors) and H-shares (Hong Kong). - BSE & NSE (India): Bombay and National Stock Exchanges — fastest-growing major market. - ASX (Australia): Australian Securities Exchange — strong in mining, banks, and REITs.

Why it matters: Each exchange has different listing standards, investor protections, and liquidity profiles — all factors in assessing investment risk.