OTC Markets Announces Trading Statistics

The OTC Markets Group recently announced trading statistics for each of its tiers in 2010.  The numbers can be found here: http://bit.ly/gWiUce

We compared these statistics with those announced a year ago, covering 2009, which we found here: http://bit.ly/kBhBQT.  The OTC Markets Group tiers and the results of our comparisons are as follows:

OTCQX - the highest tier for companies that go through a rigorous review and meet certain financial standards.  This group more than doubled from 78 to 159 companies between 2009 and 2010

OTCQB - for companies that are "reporting" to the SEC or a banking regulator and are current in their reporting requirements.  This group (with the 2009 numbers combined between the OTCBB on Pink Quote and the OTCBB only) saw a 14% increase, rising from 3,390 to 3,851 reporting companies during the year.

OTC Pink Current Information - for companies that follow certain standards and make certain information available through the OTC Market's news and disclosure service.  This group rose 8% from 1,695 to 1,830 companies.

OTC Pink Limited Information - for companies that may or may not be troubled, but have not been current in reporting through the OTC Market's news and disclosure service.  This group remained at about the same number: 739 in 2009 and 749 in 2010.

OTC Pink No Information - which includes "defunct companies that have ceased operations as well as 'dark' companies with questionable management and market disclosure practices."  This group rose by a whopping 38%, from 2,445 in 2009 to 3,375 in 2010.

The reasons for the activity can be varied -- they could be newly listed companies making their stock available for trading for the first time or they could be companies that once traded on higher exchanges that have been downgraded.