Financial markets allow for the trading of various assets between buyers and sellers. They include stock exchanges like the NYSE and NASDAQ for trading stocks of companies, commodities exchanges like the Chicago Mercantile Exchange for trading raw materials and currencies, and bond markets for trading debt. The scale of financial markets is enormous, valued in the trillions and even quadrillions of dollars globally. While complex, financial markets have a significant impact on the global economy and individuals should understand how to navigate them despite risks, as events in the markets can negatively or positively affect people's wealth and daily lives.