NYSE American — formerly known as the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) and later NYSE MKT — is one of the world’s most prominent stock exchanges and currently the second-largest in the United States.
The origins of AMEX trace back to the early 20th century: in 1911, the New York Curb Market Association was formed by curb traders operating on city sidewalks and avenues in New York — the direct predecessor of today’s NYSE American.
Official exchange website: nyse.com/markets/nyse-american
History of NYSE American
The exchange adopted the name American Stock Exchange (AMEX) in 1953 and quickly became a trendsetter among U.S. stock markets, introducing innovations later emulated by competitors.
In the 1980s — a turbulent decade for equity markets — AMEX raised margin requirements to strengthen clearing guarantees. It also introduced the first market-wide price decline circuit breaker, limiting intraday drops to prevent panic-driven collapses and protect listed companies.
In the 1990s, AMEX launched the world’s first wireless electronic trading system — a landmark advancement that reshaped global exchange infrastructure for years to come.
AMEX faced major challenges too: in 1998, it was acquired by NASDAQ. However, its shareholders repurchased the exchange in 2004. The rise of NASDAQ also triggered a sharp exodus of issuers, stalling AMEX’s growth for nearly a decade. Its recovery was driven by expanding into government bonds, futures, options, other derivatives — and by listing foreign companies.
In 2012, AMEX merged with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and was rebranded on May 10 as NYSE American (also referred to as NYSE MKT LLC), the name under which it operates today.
Key Features of NYSE American
NYSE American accounts for approximately 10% of total U.S. equity trading volume and operates as an auction-based market. A defining characteristic is its focus on small- and mid-cap companies — typically growth-stage firms — enabled by more flexible listing standards compared to the flagship New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
NYSE MKT Indices
NYSE MKT publishes several widely followed indices:
- Amex Gold BUGS Index — comprises 15 gold-mining companies. One of the most actively traded gold-sector benchmarks. Launched in 1996 as the HUI Index.
- Amex Oil Index — tracks leading oil and gas producers. Trading began in 1984.
- Amex Major Market Index — a simple average of share prices of 20 top-listed companies. Launched in 1983.
Other Major Global Exchanges
FAQ
What does NYSE American stand for?
NYSE American is the current name of the former American Stock Exchange (AMEX), rebranded after its 2012 merger with the New York Stock Exchange.
How is NYSE American different from NYSE?
NYSE American lists primarily small- and mid-cap companies with more accessible listing requirements, while NYSE focuses on large-cap, established firms.
What are the main indices on NYSE American?
Key indices include the Amex Gold BUGS Index (HUI), Amex Oil Index, and Amex Major Market Index — all launched between 1983 and 1996.
