You’ll find Sears In the Nasdaq Aisle After Kmart Merger

Most people who paid a little bit attention on the news lately know something about the merger of Sears, Roebuck & CO. and Kmart Holding Corp. There will be a new retailer to be known as Sears Holdings Corp.
The Sears, Roebuck & CO. has been in New York Stock Exchange for 95 years, while Kmart Holding Corp. is in the Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. However, now Sears is leaving NYSE, and heading to Nasdaq due to the merger. On February the 1st, 2005, the two companies said in their merger documents filed, the combined company had already applied to list its stock on Nasdaq. The symbol is not known yet. Moreover, Sears spokesman said that they've had a "longstanding and proud relationship with the NYSE”, and they are looking forward the new relationship with Nasdaq. Meanwhile, Nasdaq Chief Executive Robert Greifeld said that they are proud to welcome Sears to become a member of Nasdaq family.
Sears has been listed on NYSE in March 1910, many decades before Nasdaq was even born. But now the “Big Board” is saying goodbye to it. And the Symbol “S”, which is pretty unique, will soon be available. Those one-letter symbols actually have traditionally been prized by NYSE. However, there are now several alphabet letters that are available such as H, I, J, M, P, U, W and Z as well as some letters that may be free up later on.
I think it is pretty interesting that the stocks that listed on the NYSE usually have 1, 2, or 3 letters while the stocks that listed on Nasdaq usually have 4 or 5 letters.
In addition, seems like there are more and more companies start to leave the NYSE and join Nasdaq. Like the symbols I and M which have been reserved for Intel Corp. and Microsoft Corp., but the two technological companies have resisted the NYSE’s pitch over the years and remain listed on Nasdaq. I think that might be Nasdaq, which is more electronic and technologic than the old and traditional NYSE, is more easy and convenient for people nowadays in this technological era.