• Shares
• Bonds
• Futures and Options
• Stock Exchange

A share or stock usually represent an ownership in a company, which includes the participation in the decision-making process, having a voting right and receiving a part from the profit in a form of a dividend.

There are some special kind of shares like preferred shares or convertible preferred shares, which differs from a common stock in the rights and options it carries. Preferred stock usually carries no voting right, but a priority to common stock when paying out dividend. Convertible preferred stock could be converted to common stock at any time of the year.

Shares, along other financial products are usually traded in the stock exchange through stock brokers or through a bank or other financial institution that has a deal set up with a brokerage.