Stock market basics The stock market is made up of exchanges, like the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. Stocks are listed on a specific exchange, which brings buyers and sellers together and Stock Market Basics Rule #2: Stay Liquid. There are two main components to this rule. First, the stock has to be actively traded — at least 100,000 shares in daily volume. If trading stocks below that level, you run the risk of being stuck in a position simply because there are no traders on the other side. In terms of the beginning investor, the mutual fund fees are actually an advantage relative to the commissions on stocks. The reason for this is that the fees are the same, regardless of the amount you invest. Therefore, as long as you meet the minimum requirement to open an account, you can invest as little as $50