Welcome to the SME Alternative Markets, Boards of Trade, Stock Exchanges or OTC Markets Page
Understanding the importance of alternative markets requires historical and prospective thinking.
The longest continuously traded stock in North America is The Bank of New York. It began trading in early 1784, on a New York OTC market. For more than two-hundred and twenty continuous years The Bank of New York has traded on new exchanges and OTC markets in New York during the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Today's US capital markets and central banking system evolved from Alexander Hamilton founding the Bank of New York.
A few alternative markets emerge at an accelerating pace. From its launch in 1997, ArcaEx by 2006 became an integral part of the NYSE Group. From its launch in 1995 the London AIM market by December 2006 over took the LSE in total listings. Somewhere in the world today a company is beginning to trade on an emerging alternative market. Both will have equally profound impacts on future capital markets.
The information pieces on this page reflect an initiative to help interested parties learn more about Alternative Markets and Cross Border Listing and trading opportunities.
More than 90 SME-level alternative markets have been identified.
Overview information pieces have been created for more than 50 Alternative Markets. These free information pieces may be downloaded at
Alternative Markets Overviews
New Alternative Market overviews will be posted as third parties create them. Please
As you download information pieces please note that the Alternative Market Overviews do not cover every item that must be considered. Contact information is provided to help readers learn more about each alternative markets specific listing and regulatory requirements.
Issuers considering cross border listings must consult with professional advisors who have specific alternative market and country experience.
Presenting Alternative Market Overviews is an SME Capital Markets initiative to:
• Inform officers, directors and their advisors about cross border listing programs;
• Introduce cross border listing contacts and service providers;
• Inform decision makers about alternative markets and,
• Extend the global reach of SME capital market channels.
Click Contact Us to send comments or questions about Alternative Markets information on this site.