This document provides an overview of stocks and the stock market. It defines what stocks are, including common stock and different types. It discusses factors that influence stock prices such as company news, earnings, and investor sentiment. It introduces several major stock indices like the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500. It also explains why stock prices change in both the short-term due to news and long-term due to company fundamentals like earnings. The document is meant as an educational guide for understanding stocks and the stock market.