NYSE American Stocks - Stocks

At its peak, the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) was the third largest exchange in the United States in terms of trading volume, handling approximately 10% of all securities transactions in the United States. Today, the AMEX is known as the NYSE American. The history of the AMEX began in 1790 with the issuance of bonds by the federal government to repay the debt associated with the American Revolutionary War. It evolved through the signing of the "Buttonwood Agreement" in 1792, leading to the trading of securities at the Tontine Coffee House. Brokers doing business on the street emerged in the 1830s specialising in small company stocks. Other key moments in the AMEX include the founding of the Open Board of Stock Brokers in 1864, which later merged with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The 1900s saw organisational efforts, the establishment of ethical standards and the move to indoor trading. After changing its name to AMEX in 1953, the exchange continued to evolve and offer new products such as options in 1975 and ETFs in 1993, becoming a major player in stock market trading. In 2008, it was acquired by NYSE Euronext (itself bought by the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in 2013). Over time, NYSE American has become the exchange of choice for early-stage companies. As a result, it is now renowned for listing companies that fail to meet the NYSE's rigorous standards.