Stock Market (GTA V)
BAWSAQ and LCN in-game exchanges used for investing and Lester Assassination profit strategies.
Overview
The GTA V stock market lets players buy and sell shares on the BAWSAQ and LCN exchanges through smartphone apps in story mode. BAWSAQ prices react to Lester Assassination missions and some random events, while LCN stocks tie to single-player world changes. The system is a major endgame money sink and profit source for completionists. Mission progress saves at most checkpoints in supported titles, and the pause-map legend continues to display active objectives while players manage wanted levels or switch protagonists when the strand allows.
Walkthrough
1. Open the BAWSAQ or LCN app on any protagonist phone after missions unlock trading. 2. Research ticker symbols tied to upcoming Lester Assassination targets. 3. Invest before missions and sell after prices spike or crash post-mission. 4. Monitor portfolio performance in the app between story missions. 5. Avoid spending invested funds needed for heist setup costs until after selling. 6. Review the mission summary on the results screen for payout totals, respect changes, or unlock notifications before returning to freeroam.
Strategy Notes
Markets update after relevant missions complete — selling too early misses peak prices. BAWSAQ is affected by Online community inputs in theory, but story mode players focus on assassination-driven swings documented in Rockstar’s single-player economy.
Trivia
Stock trading is unavailable in GTA Online through the same apps. The BAWSAQ name parodies real-world NASDAQ branding. Rockstar documents these beats in the retail mission text, phone scripts, and pause-menu checklist where applicable.