Investment Glossary
Stock Exchange - Refers to the entities where stock is
traded. There are three major stock exchanges in the United States: the New
York Stock Exchange (NYSE), National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotation System (NASDAQ), and the American Stock Exchange (AMEX),
with all three located in New York City.
When purchasing stock, it is extremely important to know which exchange
they are listed on. Companies are often listed only on one but may be listed
on all three. When researching a company on the Stock Exchange, it is
necessary to know its 'ticker symbol', a unique, abbreviated identifier for
the company. For example, the company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. uses the
ticker RCL and is traded on the NYSE.
