Stock exchanges offer services for stock brokers and traders to trade stocks, bonds, and other securities.

Trillions of transactions take place in these bourses making investors poorer or richer...Take a look at the world's 10 biggest stock markets...

1. NYSE Euronext (US)

M-Cap (End-June 2011): $13,791 bn
M-Cap (End-June 2010): $11, 793 bn

Founded in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers, it is the world largest stock exchange by market capitalisation.

NYSE Euronext Inc is a Euro-American for-profit corporation that operates multiple securities exchanges, New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Euronext and NYSE Arca.

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2. Nasdaq (US)

M-Cap (End-June 2011): $4,068 bn
M-Cap (End-June 2010): $3,165 bn

An American stock exchange, Nasdaq stands for National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations.

It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalisation in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange.

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3. London Stock Exchange

M-Cap (End-June 2011): $3,849 bn
M-Cap (End-June 2010): $2,888 bn

Founded in 1801, the London Stock Exchange is the third largest stock exchange in the world.

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4. Tokyo Stock Exchange

M-cap (End-June 2011): $3,655 bn
M-cap (End-June 2010): $3,277 bn 

The Tokyo Stock Exchange was established on May 15, 1878, as the Tokyo Kabushiki Torihikij. The exchange has 2,292 listed companies.

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5. NYSE Euronext (London)

M-cap (End-June 2011): $3,248 bn
M-cap (End-June 2010): $2,295 bn

NYSE Euronext, Inc is a Euro-American for-profit corporation that operates multiple securities exchanges, most notably New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Euronext and NYSE Arca.

The NYSE group merged with Euronext in April 2007 to form the first global equities exchange.

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6. Shanghai Stock Exchange

M-cap (End-June 2011): $2,804 bn
M-cap (End-June 2010): $2,051 bn

The Shanghai Stock Exchange was re-established on 26 November 1990.

It is not fully open to foreign investors due to tight capital account controls by the Chinese mainland authorities.

It is a membership institution directly governed by the China Securities Regulatory Commission(CSRC).

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7. Hong Kong Exchange

M-cap (End-June 2011): $2,712 bn
M-cap (End-June 2010): $2,200 bn

Founded in 1891, it is Asia's third largest stock exchange in terms of market capitalisation after Tokyo Stock Exchange and Shanghai Stock Exchange and 7th largest in the world.

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8. TMX Group

M-cap (End-June 2011): $2,231 bn
M-cap (End-June 2010): $1,635 bn

Founded in May 2008, The TMX Group Inc owns and operates the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), and the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V), formerly known as the Canadian Venture Exchange (CDNX), the Montreal Exchange, the Natural Gas Exchange and the Boston Options Exchange.

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9. Deutsche Borse

M-cap (End-June 2011): $1,622 bn
M-cap (End-June 2010): $1,106 bn

Founded in 1993, Deutsche Borse AG gives companies and investors access to global capital markets.

It is a joint stock company with its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. As of December 2010, the over 765 companies listed in the bourse.

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10.BM&FBOVESPA

M-cap (End-June 2011): $1,553 bn
M-cap (End-June 2010): $1,151 bn

The Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa) and the Brazilian Mercantile and Futures Exchange (BM&F) merged, creating BM&FBOVESPA.

It was founded in August 23, 1890.