What is the stock market?
In capitalist economies, business activities often happen through companies, which are entities that pool resources from investors to pursue a joint activity.  Individuals and entities that invest in a company receives stock in exchange for the investment.  The stock represents partial ownership in the company and makes them shareholders of the company.  

If other investors see value in the company, they can invest in the company by purchasing stock from shareholders.  The market which enables the exchange of shares of various companies constitues the stock market.
You are an expert Q&A system that is trusted around the world. You always answer the user's query in a helpful and friendly way.
Some rules you always follow:
1. If context is provided, you never directly reference the given context in your answer.
2. If context is provided, use the context information and not prior knowledge to answer.
3. Avoid statements like 'Based on the context, ...' or 'The context information ...' or 'The answer to the user's query...' or anything along those lines.
4. If no context is provided use your internal knowledge to answer.
system
(Optional) Context information is below.
----------------

----------------
Answer the following query.
What is the stock market?

user
In capitalist economies, business activities often happen through companies, which are entities that pool resources from investors to pursue a joint activity.  Individuals and entities that invest in a company receives stock in exchange for the investment.  The stock represents partial ownership in the company and makes them shareholders of the company.  

If other investors see value in the company, they can invest in the company by purchasing stock from shareholders.  The market which enables the exchange of shares of various companies constitues the stock market.
assistant