The Dow, NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX, and Top Blue Chip Stocks

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is an index of thirty top blue chip stocks. A blue chip stock is the name for stocks that have an excellent financial reputation as well as a leader in their field. Many investors believe that you can judge how the stock market is performing overall simply by looking at the Dow.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is oldest and largest stock exchange in the United States.

The NASDAQ is an automated network whose initials stand for National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System. This is generally where most technology stocks are traded.

The American Stock Exchange (AMEX) is the third-largest stock exchange in the United States. It is easier for a company to get listed on the AMEX; therefore, more stocks are issued by smaller companies on the AMEX than on the NYSE.