The Farm Credit System (FCS) is a national financial cooperative providing loans to farmers, cooperatives, rural homeowners, agribusinesses, and rural utility systems.
A credit union is a nonprofit cooperative financial institution that primarily provides consumer credit LOANS to its members, with funds deposited by its participants. Credit unions are mutually owned and run by their members, with a BOARD OF DIRECTORS, elected by the members, which sets policies and procedures.
Commodity markets are markets where basic goods and materials are exchanged. Commodity markets can be as small as a local farmers market or as large as the CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE (CBOT), the first commodity exchange in the United States (established in 1848). Generally commodity markets are located near historic centers of PRODUCTION of major commodities or in major cities like Chicago and New York.
The American Stock Exchange (AMEX), a self-regulating organization registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is the second largest stock exchange in the United States.