An Exchange is a marketplace where securities, commodities, derivatives and other financial instruments are traded. The purpose of an exchange is to provide a venue where buyers and sellers can come together to trade these assets. Exchanges provide liquidity to the market by matching buyers and sellers. They also provide transparency by displaying prices and order books.There are many different types of exchanges, including stock exchanges, futures exchanges and commodity exchanges. The most well-known stock exchange is the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The NYSE is the world's largest stock exchange with over 2,000 listed companies. It was founded in 1792 and has been operating continuously ever since.Futures contracts are standardized agreements between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specific price on a specific date in the future. Futures contracts are traded on futures exchanges. The most well-known futures exchange is the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), which was founded in 1848 as the first U..S futures market.