WHAT KINDS OF SECURITIES ARE TRADED ON THE OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET?
Securities traded over the counter are primarily stocks and bonds. Virtually all government and municipal bonds are traded on the OTC market. In addition, corporate stocks and bonds are traded here as well. Any company can sell its securities on the OTC market. This is another distinction between OTC trading and the trading on stock exchanges, where companies must apply to be listed and where the exchange board regulates which companies may be traded. Because they are not listed with an exchange, companies traded exclusively over the counter are often called unlisted companies.