Stocks are now nearly 400 years old. The earliest stock market arose in 1602 when the Dutch and British established overseas trading companies. These companies are established by raising share capital and have obvious characteristics of joint-stock companies; they have legal person status; a board of directors is established; the general meeting of shareholders is the company's highest authority; dividends are distributed according to shares; and a limited liability system is implemented. The successful operation and rapid development of the joint-stock company made more enterprises follow suit.…
