{{B}}The Securities Exchange{{/B}}
When people buy stock, most do so through one of the securities exchanges or marketplaces for stocks and bonds. These marketplaces are commonly called "stock exchanges" and they provide a meeting place for both the buyer and seller. To understand why such securities or stock exchanges are important in the purchase and sale of stocks and bonds, consider what would happen if you, and everyone who wanted do buy (or sell) securities, had to find your own buyer (or seller). If the market is going down the only way to recover your investment is to hang on to the stock and wait for it to come back. More importantly, how would you find out who is interested in selling that stock to you (or buying it from you)? In order to handle this marketing problem, securities exchanges sprung up. These exchanges are nothing more than locations where stocks are bought and sold. And since there is a common meeting place for there (or send their representatives). The result is a very systematic market process, where transations are handled in an orderly manner and the operations are both supervised and regulated by law.{{U}} (8) {{/U}}
Buying and Selling Securities
The general approach in buying and selling securities, regardless of the exchange where they are purchased, is basically the same, We provide a general picture of how security transactions take place; and for a fuller understanding, we will discuss some of the important terminology and functions of security trading.{{U}} (9) {{/U}}
How would you go about buying stock in a major corporation? It's really quite simple. First, you would decide what you want to buy—such as 100 shares of IBM.{{U}} (10) {{/U}}
Assuming your broker works for a major stock brokerage, the order would be telephoned directly to a company clerk on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The clerk would hand the order to a member of the Exchange who is a partner in the brokerage. This individual would then go to the appropriate locale on the trading floor and ask for the latest quote on IBM. Let us say it is "70 to a quarter."{{U}} (11) {{/U}}
If your broker wants, a sale can be struck at ＄ 70.25 since the order calls for a purchase at the current market price. More likely, however, your broker will bid ＄ 70.125 and hope to save you one eighth of a point or ＄ 12.50. And it is likely that another broker with an order to sell will show up and accept the bid of ＄ 70 1/8. The two brokers will then initial each other's sales orders and see that the transaction is relayed to the exchange employee known as the reporter. The reporter sees that the sale is reported and a few minutes later it will come out on the ticker tape.
Bulls and Bears
What does "a bull" mean? It is a term that is used to refer to an invester who expects prices to rise.
{{U}} (12) {{/U}}
Of course, the market will not always rise. Sometimes stocks drop and remain low for extended periods of time. Those investors who expect stock prices to decline are known as "bears." During the Great Depression, the bears made a great deal of money. While the bulls were "buying long" the bears were "selling short."

A How would you know what a fair price for the security is?
B This means that someone is currently bidding "＄ 70 for the stock and another party is willing to sell at ＄ 70.25."
C How stocks are actually purchased
D "Bulls" buy in anticipation of the market going up.
E In this way, the buyer (or seller) is ensured that the best price is secured and they are not shortchanged or cheated in any way.
F Then you would place a call to your stockbroker, who would enter an order to buy the 100 shares at the current market price.
G If the market is going down the only way to recover your investment is to hang on to the stock and wait for it to come back.