public static Map<String,Integer> readTickers() throws IOException {
    final BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new FileReader("stocks.txt"));
    final Map<String,Integer> stocks = new HashMap<String, Integer>();

    String stockInfo = null;
    while ((stockInfo = reader.readLine()) != null){
      final String[] stockInfoData = stockInfo.split(",");
      final String stockTicker = stockInfoData[0];
      final Integer quantity = Integer.valueOf(stockInfoData[1]);

      stocks.put(stockTicker,quantity);
    }

    return stocks;
  }