World's 8 biggest stock exchanges

According to July 2008 data released these are 8 biggest stock exchanges.

1. New York Stock Exchange: $21.79 trillion share trades

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is nicknamed the 'Big Board'. This is the largest stock exchange in the world by dollar volume with 2,764 listed securities. It has the second most securities of all stock exchanges.

The NYSE originated on May 17, 1792. On that day, the Buttonwood Agreement was signed by 24 stock brokers outside New York's 68 Wall Street under a buttonwood tree.

2. NASDAQ: $11.81 trillion share trades

The NASDAQ is the acronym for National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. An American stock exchange, NASDAQ is the largest electronic screen-based equity securities trading market in the US.

It is owned and operated by the NASDAQ OMX Group.

With about 3,200 companies in its ambit, NASDAQ has more trading volume per day than any other stock exchange.

NASDAQ came into being in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers.

NASDAQ was the successor to the over-the-counter (OTC) and the 'Curb Exchange' systems of trading. As late as 1987, the NASDAQ exchange was commonly referred to as the OTC.

3. The London Stock Exchange: $7.57 trillion share trades

London Stock Exchange, or LSE, is located in London, England. It is part of the London Stock Exchange Group plc. One of the largest stock exchanges in the world, LSE was founded in 1801.

The trade in shares in London began with the need to finance two voyages: The Muscovy Company's attempt to reach China via the White Sea north of Russia, and the East India Company voyage to India and the east.

Unable to finance these costly journeys, the companies raised the money by selling shares to merchants, giving them a right to a portion of any profits eventually made.

4. Tokyo Stock Exchange: $5.82 trillion share trades

The Tokyo Stock Exchange, or TSE, located in Tokyo, Japan, is the second largest stock exchange in the world by market value, second to the New York Stock Exchange, but 4th in terms of worth of shares traded.

It currently lists 2,271 domestic companies and 31 foreign companies.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange was established on May 15, 1878, as the Tokyo Kabushiki Torihikijo under the direction of then Finance Minister Okuma Shigenobu and capitalist advocate Shibusawa Eiichi. Trading began on June 1, 1878.

In 1943, the exchange was combined with 10 other stock exchanges in major Japanese cities to form a single Japanese Stock Exchange. The combined exchange was shut down and reorganized shortly after the bombing of Nagasaki.

5. Euronext: $3.85 trillion share trades

Euronext N.V. is a pan-European stock exchange based in Paris with subsidiaries in Belgium, France, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

In addition to equities and derivatives markets, the Euronext group provides clearing and information services.

Not too long ago, Euronext merged with NYSE Group to form NYSE Euronext, the 'first global stock exchange'.

Euronext was formed on September 22, 2000 in a merger of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, Brussels Stock Exchange, and Paris Bourse.

In December 2001, Euronext acquired the shares of the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange, which continues to operate under its own governance.

6. Deutsche Borse: $2.74 trillion share trades

Deutsche Borse AG is a marketplace organizer for the trading of shares and other securities. It also is a transaction services provider. It gives companies and investors access to global capital markets.

Deutsche Borse was founded in 1992. The headquarters are in Frankfurt, Germany.

More than 3,200 employees of the exchange serve customers in Europe, the US and Asia. Deutsche Borse has locations in Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Spain, as well as representative offices in London, Paris, Chicago, New York, Hong Kong, and Dubai.

FWB Frankfurter Wertpapierborse (Frankfurt Stock Exchange), is one of the world's largest trading centers for securities. With a share in turnover of around 90 per cent, it is the largest of the German stock exchanges.

Deutsche Borse AG operates the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

In 2001, Deutsche Borse tried to merge with the London Stock Exchange, followed in 2006 by a takeover bid, both rejected by LSE.

7. Borsa Italiana: $1.59 trillion share trades

The Borsa Italiana based in Milan, is Italy's main stock exchange. It was privatized in 1997, and was acquired by the London Stock Exchange in October 2007.

Borsa Italiana has managing responsibility for Italy's derivatives markets and its fixed income market.

Milan's Borsa di Commercio (Commodities Exchange) opened under a vice-royal decree on 16 January 1808 and it operated under public ownership until 1998.

It was sold to a consortium of banks, and operated under a S.p. A. holding company between January 2, 1998 and an all-share takeover by the London Stock Exchange on October 1, 2007.

8. SWX Swiss Exchange: $1.40 trillion share trades

SWX Swiss Exchange is Switzerland's stock exchange, based in Zurich.

The main stock market index for the SWX Swiss Exchange is the SMI. The index consists of the 20 most significant equity-securities based on the free float market capitalization.

The exchange also trades other securities such as Swiss government bonds and derivatives such as stock options.

The SWX is the first stock exchange in the world to incorporate a fully automated trading system in 1995.

The SWX is the joint owners of the Eurex, world's largest futures and derivatives exchange along with their German partners Deutsche Borse.

Sources

Rediffmail.com

http://www.world-exchanges.org/WFE/home.asp?menu=395 (really good one)