What is a Stock Exchange?
A Stock Exchange is like a market where companies sell pieces of themselves (shares) and investors buy and sell these pieces among themselves. In Brazil, the stock exchange is called B3 (Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão).
How does it work?
- Companies go public (IPO) to raise money
- Investors buy shares of these companies
- The shares are traded daily on the stock exchange
- The price rises and falls according to supply and demand
Operating Hours
The B3 operates from Monday to Friday:
- Pre-opening: 9:45 to 10:00
- Regular trading: 10:00 to 17:00
- After market: 17:30 to 18:00
Main Indices
- Ibovespa: index with the most traded shares in Brazil
- IFIX: real estate investment fund index
- S&P 500: main US index
How to invest in the stock exchange
You need an account with a securities broker. Most do not charge a fee to open an account. With R$ 100, you can already buy fractional shares.