Share

As applied to stocks the term means one of the equal parts into which the capital stock of a company is divided.: oe a In Great Britain stocks and shares are different forms into which the capital of companies may be divided. Shares are of £1 or £2 or any other denomination up to £1,000; but the most usual denominations are £1, £5 and £10. The distinction between shares and stock lies in the fact that shares are indivisible. Any number of shares may be transferred but no single share can be divided; and shares are quoted at so much per share. Stock can be divided and dealt in, in some cases,; in pennyworths. For instance, it is po ible to transfer, say, £3, 11s. 9d. consols; but usually stock is transferred only in multiples of £1 and stock is quoted and dealt in at so much percent. A share certificate is a certificate of a share or shares; a stock certificate is a certificate of so much stock. The securities i ued by a government are generally designated as bonds instead of stock. The securities i ued by the United States government are designated as bonds, although formerly known as stock. Some of the securities i ued by the city of New York are designated as stock; but municipalities as a rule designate their securities as bonds instead of stock. For additional information see Stock.: Share broker. One who deals in shares of stock. This term is not in common use; the term usually employed is stock broker. 476