1997 NAICS Definitions
523 Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities

523 Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities

Industries in the Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities subsector group establishments that are primarily engaged in one of the following: (1) underwriting securities issues and/or making markets for securities and commodities; (2) acting as agents (i.e., brokers) between buyers and sellers of securities and commodities; (3) providing securities and commodity exchange services; and (4) providing other services, such as managing portfolios of assets; providing investment advice; and trust, fiduciary, and custody services.

5231 Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in putting capital at risk in the process of underwriting securities issues or in making markets for securities and commodities; and those acting as agents and/or brokers between buyers and sellers of securities and commodities, usually charging a commission.

52311 Investment Banking and Securities Dealing

523110 Investment Banking and Securities Dealing

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in underwriting, originating, and/or maintaining markets for issues of securities. Investment bankers act as principals (i.e., investors who buy or sell on their own account) in firm commitment transactions or act as agents in best effort and standby commitments. This industry also includes establishments acting as principals in buying or selling securities generally on a spread basis, such as securities dealers or stock option dealers.

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NAICSSICCorresponding Index Entries
5231106211Banking, investment
5231106211Bond dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing securities to investors)
5231106211Commercial paper dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing securities to investors)
5231106211Investment banking
5231106211Making markets for securities
5231106211Securities dealers (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing securities to investors)
5231106211Securities dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing securities to investors)
5231106211Securities distributing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing securities to investors)
5231106211Securities floor traders (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing securities to investors)
5231106211Securities flotation companies
5231106211Securities originating (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing securities to investors)
5231106211Securities trading (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing securities to investors)
5231106211Securities underwriting
5231106211Stock options dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing securities to investors)
5231106211Trading securities (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing securities to investors)


52312 Securities Brokerage

523120 Securities Brokerage

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in acting as agents (i.e., brokers) between buyers and sellers in buying or selling securities on a commission or transaction fee basis.

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NAICSSICCorresponding Index Entries
5231206211Bond brokerages
5231206211Brokerages, securities
5231206099Certificate of deposit (CD) brokers' offices
5231206211Commercial note brokers' offices
5231206211Mutual fund agencies (i.e., brokerages)
5231206211Mutual fund agents' (i.e., brokers') offices
5231206211Securities brokerages
5231206211Securities brokers' offices
5231206211Securities floor brokers
5231206211Stock brokerages
5231206211Stock brokers' offices
5231206211Stock options brokerages


52313 Commodity Contracts Dealing

523130 Commodity Contracts Dealing

This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in acting as principals (i.e., investors who buy or sell for their own account) in buying or selling spot or futures commodity contracts or options, such as precious metals, foreign currency, oil, or agricultural products, generally on a spread basis.

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NAICSSICCorresponding Index Entries
5231306799Commodity contract trading companies
5231306221Commodity contracts dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing commodities to investors)
5231306221Commodity contracts floor traders (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing commodities to investo
5231306221Commodity contracts floor trading (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing commodities to investo
5231306799Commodity contracts options dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing commodities to inves
5231306221Commodity contracts traders (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing commodities to investors)
5231306099Foreign currency exchange dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing commodities to investo
5231306099Foreign currency exchange services (i.e., selling to the public)
5231306221Futures commodity contracts dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing commodities to inves
5231306799Trading companies, commodity contracts


52314 Commodity Contracts Brokerage

523140 Commodity Contracts Brokerage

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in acting as agents (i.e., brokers) in buying or selling spot or future commodity contracts or options on a commission or transaction fee basis.

Illustrative Examples:

Commodity contracts brokerages

Commodity futures brokerages

Financial futures brokerages

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NAICSSICCorresponding Index Entries
5231406221Brokerages, commodity contracts
5231406221Commodity contracts brokerages
5231406221Commodity contracts brokers' offices
5231406221Commodity contracts floor brokers
5231406221Commodity contracts options brokerages
5231406221Commodity futures brokerages
5231406221Financial futures brokerages
5231406221Futures commodity contracts brokerages
5231406221Futures commodity contracts brokers' offices


5232 Securities and Commodity Exchanges

52321 Securities and Commodity Exchanges

523210 Securities and Commodity Exchanges

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in furnishing physical or electronic marketplaces for the purpose of facilitating the buying and selling of stocks, stock options, bonds, or commodity contracts.

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NAICSSICCorresponding Index Entries
5232106231Commodity contracts exchanges
5232106231Exchanges, commodity contracts
5232106231Exchanges, securities
5232106231Futures commodity contracts exchanges
5232106231Securities exchanges
5232106231Stock exchanges
5232106231Stock or commodity options exchanges


5239 Other Financial Investment Activities

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in one of the following: (1) acting as principals in buying or selling financial contracts (except investment bankers, securityes dealers, and commodity contracts dealers); (2) acting as agents (i.e., brokers) (except securities brokerages and commodity contracts brokerages) in buying or selling financial contracts; or (3) providing other investment services (except securities and commodity exchanges), such as portfolio management; investment advice; and trust, fiduciary, and custody services.

52391 Miscellaneous Intermediation

523910 Miscellaneous Intermediation

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in acting as principals (except investment bankers, securities dealers, and commodity contracts dealers) in buying or selling of financial contracts generally on a spread basis. Principals are investors that buy or sell for their own account.

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NAICSSICCorresponding Index Entries
523910679MIndividuals investing in financial contracts on own account
5239106799Investment clubs
5239106211Mineral royalties or leases dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing royalties or leases
5239106211Oil royalty dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing royalties to investors)
5239106799Tax liens dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing tax liens to investors)
5239106799Venture capital companies
5239106799Viatical settlement companies


52392 Portfolio Management

523920 Portfolio Management

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in managing the portfolio assets (i.e., funds) of others on a fee or commission basis. Establishments in this industry have the authority to make investment decisions, and they derive fees based on the size and/or overall performance of the portfolio.

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NAICSSICCorresponding Index Entries
5239206M Managing investment funds
5239206282Managing mutual funds
5239206282Managing personal investment trusts
5239206M Managing trusts
5239206282Mutual fund managing
5239206371Pension fund managing
5239206282Personal investments trusts, managing
5239206M Portfolio fund managing


52393 Investment Advice

523930 Investment Advice

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing customized investment advice to clients on a fee basis, but do not have the authority to execute trades. Primary activities performed by establishments in this industry are providing financial planning advice and investment counseling to meet the goals and needs of specific clients.

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NAICSSICCorresponding Index Entries
5239306282Certified financial planners, customized, fees paid by client
5239306282Financial investment advice services, customized, fees paid by client
5239306282Financial planning services, customized, fees paid by client
5239306282Investment advice consulting services, customized, fees paid by client
5239306282Investment advice counseling services, customized, fees paid by client
5239306282Investment advisory services, customized, fees paid by client


52399 All Other Financial Investment Activities

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in acting as agents or brokers (except securities brokerages and commodity contracts brokerages) in buying and selling financial contracts providing financial investment activities (except securities and commodity exchanges, portfolio management, and investment advice).

523991 Trust, Fiduciary, and Custody Activities

This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing trust, fiduciary, and custody services to others, as instructed, on a fee or contract basis, such as bank trust offices and escrow agencies (except real estate).

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NAICSSICCorresponding Index Entries
5239916733Administrators of private estates
5239916091Bank trust offices
5239916099Escrow agencies (except real estate)
5239916099Fiduciary agencies (except real estate)
5239916091Personal investments trust administration
5239916289Securities custodians
5239916091Trust administration, personal investment
5239916091Trust companies, nondepository


523999 Miscellaneous Financial Investment Activities

This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in acting as agents and/or brokers (except securities brokerages and commodity contracts brokerages) in buying or selling financial contracts and those providing financial investment services (except securities and commodity exchanges; portfolio management; investment advice; and trust, fiduciary, and custody services) on a fee or commission basis.

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NAICSSICCorresponding Index Entries
5239996289Clearinghouses, commodity exchange or securities exchange
5239996289Exchange clearinghouses, commodities or securities
5239996211Gas lease brokers' offices
5239996211Oil lease brokers' offices
5239996289Protective committees, security holders
5239996289Quotation services, securities
5239996289Quotation services, stock
5239996289Securities holders' protective services
5239996289Securities transfer agencies
5239996289Stock quotation services
5239996289Stock transfer agencies
5239996289Transfer agencies, securities