Placing stock refers to the initial listing of shares on a stock exchange for public trading.

• A. The initial listing of shares on a stock exchange for public trading.
• B. A private sale to institutional investors.
• C. A share repurchase by the company.
• D. A secondary offering to existing shareholders.

Answer: (A)

Placing stock describes the first-time introduction of a company’s shares to the public by listing on a stock exchange, making them available for public trading. This is the moment investors can buy shares on the open market, typically through an IPO or the listing process that brings the stock onto an exchange. The option that matches this description is the initial listing of shares on a stock exchange for public trading. Private sales to institutional investors are private placements, not public and not the initial listing. A share repurchase is the company buying back its own shares, reducing outstanding shares. A secondary offering to existing shareholders involves selling more shares after the IPO, not the initial listing.