Below is a list of stock exchanges in the United States and also around the world.
Major Stock Exchanges in the United States
There are currently 13 registered stock exchanges operating in the United States, below is a list of stock exchanges in the USA.
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
The New York Stock Exchange, commonly referred to as NYSE is the largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalization. The parent company of the New York Stock Exchange is now called NYSE Euronext, following a merger with the European exchange in 2007.
For many years, the NYSE was mainly done face-to-face on the trading floor. Today, the NYSE offers a hybrid model, with a floor-based marketplace and an electronic one. More than half of all NYSE trades are conducted electronically, although floor traders are still used to set pricing and deal in high volume institutional trading.
There are over 3,000 listed companies trading on the NYSE. Some of the largest companies in America are listed on the NYSE such as Walmart, Coca-Cola, McDonalds and among others.
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. All stock trades are done electronically and the NASDAQ has more trading volume than any other electronic stock exchange in the world.
The NASDAQ is a huge exchange, there are over 2,700 companies listed on the NASDAQ, that range from small-cap to large-cap stocks. Many tech giants are listed on the NASDAQ such as: Apple, Microsoft, Intel, Dell and many others.
AMEX
The American Stock Exchange, now known as NYSE Amex Equities after the NYSE Euronext acquired it in 2008. It is the third-largest stock exchange by trading volume in the United States.
The AMEX features mostly small and micro cap companies. It is a great place to find some of the next emerging businesses.
BATS Global Markets
When BATS launched in 2005, it was an alternative trading system (ATS), which also referred to as Alternative Trading Networks or an Electronic Communication Network (ECN).
However, in 2008, it transitioned from an ATS to a registered national U.S. stock exchange that competes with the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. BATS Global Markets is now a stock exchange where companies can be listed and has become the third-largest in the United States by volume.
BATS operates two stock exchanges in the U.S., the BZX Exchange and the BYX Exchange (The BATS Exchanges), which currently account for about 10-12% of all U.S. equity trading on a daily basis.
Over-The-Counter (OTC) and Pink Sheets
This is not really an exchange, but rather it is where companies trade that are not listed on a stock exchange. Companies that trade on the OTC are usually smaller and often referred to penny stocks. Stocks that trade on the OTC are considered riskier because they do not meet the requirements to be listed on a stock exchange.
There are two different markets for stocks that trade Over-The-Counter: The OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB) and OTC Markets (formerly Pink Sheets)
OTC Markets (formerly Pink Sheets)
The OTC Markets is not a stock exchange, but rather the company facilitates the exchange of securities between qualified independent brokers. Here you can find a variety of penny stocks, many of which are usually thinly traded microcap companies.
This market is divided into 3 tiers:
- The OTCQB is for companies registered with the SEC
- The OTCQX is for companies who aren’t registered with the SEC but do report their audited financials to the OTC Markets.
- The OTC Pink Markets is for companies who may or may not disclose any information to the public. These are the most speculative of the three tiers.
OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB)
The OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB) is a regulated quotation service that displays real-time quotes, last-sale prices, and volume information in over-the-counter (OTC) equity securities. An OTC equity security generally is any equity that is not listed or traded on NASDAQ or a national securities exchange. Broker-dealers who subscribe to the system can use the OTCBB to look up prices or enter quotes for OTC securities.
The OTCBB features a variety of penny stocks, many trading between $0.01 & $1 per share and are usually thinly traded microcap companies.
The OTCBB has the following features:
- provides access to more than 3,500 securities
- includes more than 300 participating Market Makers
- electronically transmits real-time quote, price, and volume information
- displays indications of interest and prior-day trading activity
List of Stock Exchanges around the world
Below is a list of stock exchanges around the world, consisting of the major stock exchanges around the globe.
Canada
Toronto Stock Exchange
The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX, formerly TSE) is the largest stock exchange in Canada, the third largest in North America and the seventh largest in the world by market capitalization. The exchange is based in Toronto, which is the largest city in Canada.
A broad range of businesses from Canada, the United States, Europe, and other countries are represented on the exchange. The Toronto Stock Exchange has more mining and oil & gas companies listed than any other exchange in the world.
United Kingdom
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is located in the City of London in the United Kingdom. As of June 2011, the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.8 trillion making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world and the largest in Europe.
The London Stock Exchange has over 3,000 companies listed on its exchange from over 70 countries.
Japan
Tokyo Stock Exchange
It is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies and the largest in Asia. It had 2,292 listed companies with a combined market capitalization of US$3.8 trillion as of Dec 2010
Stocks listed on the TSE are separated into three sections: First Section for large companies, the Second Section for mid-sized companies, and the Mothers (Market of the high-growth and emerging stocks) section for high-growth startup companies. As of 2011, there are 1,675 First Section companies, 437 Second Section companies and 182 Mothers companies.
China
Shanghai Stock Exchange
The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) is based in the city of Shanghai, China. It is the second largest stock exchange in Asia with over 860 listed companies and is the world’s 5th largest stock market by market capitalization at US$2.7 trillion as of 2011.
Hong Kong Stock Exchange
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is located in the city of Hong Kong, China. It is Asia’s third largest stock exchange in terms of market capitalization behind the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and the fifth largest in the world. As of 2011, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange had 1,477 listed companies with a combined market capitalization of $2.5 trillion.
Brazil
BM&F Bovespa
BM&F Bovespa is located in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. It is the eighth largest stock exchange in the world has market capitalization of US$1.22 Trillion. There are over 500 companies traded on the exchange.
Australia
Australian Securities Exchange
The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is based in Sydney, Australia. It is one of the world’s top-10 listed exchange groups measured by market cap and has over 2,200 companies listed on the exchange.
