The Missouri Uniform Securities Act, also known as the "Blue Sky Law" and administered by the Securities Division of the Office of Secretary of State, requires the registration of stocks, bonds, debentures, notes, investment contracts, and oil, gas, and mining interests intended for sale in the state. In cases of fraud, misrepresentation, or other failure to comply with the act, the Missouri investor has the right to sue to recover the investment, plus interest, costs, and attorney fees. Government securities, mutual funds, stocks listed on the principal national exchanges, and securities sold under specific transactional agreements are exempt from registration.
Missouri has 1,042 broker-dealers with 17,669 employees, and 185 investment advisory organizations. The state is the headquarters for 71 NASDAQ-listed companies, 12 NASDAQ market makers, and is the incorporator of 44 NYSE-listed companies. The top five in order of revenues are: Sprint, Utilicorp United Inc., Emerson Electric Co., May Dept. Stores, and Pharmacia Corp. Kansas City has a commodity exchange, the Board of Trade, which deals in grains, including futures and storage. The world's largest winter-wheat market is in Kansas City.