The US stock market is the largest capital market in the world. The total market capitalization of listed companies and trading volume are the highest among all stock equity markets all over the world. It also contains the most varieties of corporate types of listed companies.
Leading enterprises with the highest market value and trade volume like CitiGroup, Intel, Microsoft and Coca-Cola, choose to list on the US stock market because of the strong capital raising power of US stock market. With a standard cash custodian account, investors may trade blue-chip shares and stocks of many other leading technology companies in the US market. Phillip Securities, with the newly launched on-line US stock trading service, provides you an opportunity to enlarge your investment horizon in the world biggest stock market.
Generally speaking, large enterprises tend to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market.
The New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) has established for more than 200 years, it is the largest US exchange with the highest reputation. Until 2007, more than 2300 enterprises were listed on NYSE, over 15 trillions total global market capitalization.
Since 2000, NYSE has been processing mergers and acquisitions actively. In 2005, it acquired another electronic exchange, Archipelago. In April 2007, NYSE announced merging with Euronext and formed a new holding company named NYSE Euronext. This merging successfully expanded its territory to Europe, as well as the expansion of the products from the equities to derivatives. In June 2008, NYSE completed the acquisition of America stock exchange (Amex).
The listing requirements of NYSE are stringent. The enterprises which have no profitable performance records are not allowed to enter the New York Stock Exchange. Most of the 500 historic largest enterprises, including mostly listed on NYSE. They are included General Electric, Exxon Mobil, Wal-Mart, Citigroup and Johnson & Johnson are well known for investors.
The NASDAQ Stock Exchange
The NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ) is established in 1971 and it is the well-recognized U.S. technology stocks trading center. This electronic trading market is different from the New York Stock exchange. As it is not a fixed location, the transactions are carried out through the electronic trading. Every transaction is negotiated between securities dealers directly by computers, telephone network or cable network.
Over the Counter Market (OCT Market)
National or regional equity securities, as well as oversea equities, warrants, fund units, American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and Direct Private Plan (DPPs) are traded on OTC market. US OTC is the largest OCT market around the world, number of equities traded on it accounts for 75% of total equities traded across the country, and over half of China top 500 companies are traded on US OTC market.