Stock Exchange in Western Europe

Stock Exchange in the Western Europe

Content

London Stock Exchange 3

Frankfurt Stock Exchange 6

Paris Bourse 7

Swiss Exchange 8

Borsa Italiana 9

Bibliography 11

Stock exchange in Western Europe

(UK, Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy)

A stock exchange is an entity that provides services for stock brokers and traders to trade stocks, bonds, and other securities. Stock exchanges also provide facilities for issue and redemption of securities and other financial instruments, and capital events including the payment of income and dividends. Securities traded on a stock exchange include shares issued by companies, unit trusts, derivatives, pooled investment products and bonds.

The aim of the following paper is to present the main characteristics of the Stock Exchange from the big cities from Western Europe. Additionally, the paper will outline the features of the five European cities, ranking among the 10 largest financial centers in the world: London (1st), Paris (5th), Frankfurt (6th), Zurich (7th) and Geneva (8th).

London Stock Exchange

The London Stock Exchange is the most important exchange in Europe and one of the largest in the world. It lists over 3,000 companies and with 350 of the companies coming from 50 different countries, the LSE is the most international of all exchanges. As of June 2011[update], the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement (and the largest in Europe). The London Stock Exchange is comprised of two different stock markets: the Main Market and the Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

The Main Market is solely for established companies with high performance, and the listing requirements are strict. Approximately 1,800 of the LSE's company listings trade on the Main Market, and the total market...