How Do I Buy Stocks in the 'Gray Market'? By John Hewitt, eHow Contributor How Do I Buy Stocks in the 'Gray Market'? thumbnail Gray market exchanges deal in small stocks unlisted on public markets.
The "gray market" for stocks refers to the over-the-counter (OTC) exchange of stocks that aren't yet listed on the public exchanges. Most often, the stocks traded are low-priced, often from small and obscure companies. Due to the relatively low volume of trades on the gray market, shares may be inaccurately priced. The companies that issue stock on the gray market aren't obligated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to release regular reports about company activities or to provide the same level of corporate transparency as publicly traded companies.