what is an american depository share
What is AMERICAN DEPOSITORY SHARE (ADS)? COMMON STOCK issued by a foreign company in the US marketplace. ADSs, denominated in US dollars, are registered with the SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION and are traded on an EXCHANGE or OVERTHECOUNTER. See also AMERICAN DEPOSITORY RECEIPT, GLOBALDEPOSITORY RECEIPT, GLOBAL DEPOSITORY SHARE.
ADRs are subject to the same currency, political, and economic risks as the underlying foreign share. Arbitrage keeps the prices of ADRs and underlying foreign shares, adjusted for the SDR/ordinary ratio essentially equal. American depository shares (ADS) are a similar form of certification.