On October 1, 2008, it changed its name to NYSE Alternext U.S. Prior to its 2008 acquisition by
NYSE Euronext, the American Stock Exchange was a
mutually owned stock exchange located in Manhattan. Of the three main U.S.
stock exchanges, it has the most liberal policies on company listing, having more small companies than either the
NYSE or
NASDAQ. As a result, it is smaller than either of those stock exchanges by
trading volume, handling only about 10% of American
securities.