The largest stock exchanges

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), sometimes known as the "Big Board", is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street, Lower Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. It is the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at US$14.242 trillion as of 2011. Average daily trading value was approximately US$153 billion in 2008.

Operated by NYSE Euronext, the holding company created by the combination of NYSE Group, Inc. and Euronext N.V., NYSE offers a broad and growin array of financial products and services in cash equities, futures, options, exchange-traded products (ETPs), bonds, market data, and commercial technology solutions. Featuring more than 8000 listed issues it includes 90% of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and 82% of the S&P 500 stock market indexes volume.

The NASDAQ is a virtual listed exchange, where all of the trading is done over a computer network. Second largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalization and trade value. The process is similar to the New York Stock Exchange. However, buyers and sellers are electronically matched. Headquartered in New York City. Market Capitalization (2011, USD Billions) - 4,687; Trade Value (2011, USD Billions) – 13,552. The exchange is owned by NASDAQ OMX Group which also owns and operates 24 markets, 3 clearinghouses and 5 central securities depositories supporting equities, options, derivatives, commodities, futures and structured products. It is a home to approximately 3,400 listed companies and its main index is the NASDAQ Composite, which has been published since its inception.

The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London in the United Kingdom. As of December 2011, the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.266 trillion (short scale), making it the third-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement (and the largest in Europe). The Exchange was founded in 1801 and it is the first Stock Exchange in the world. its current premises are situated in Paternoster Square close to St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London. The Exchange is part of the London Stock Exchange Group. The London Stock Exchange runs several markets for listing, giving an opportunity for different sized companies to list. International companies can list a number of products in London including shares, depositary receipts and debt, offering different and cost-effective ways to raise capital. In 2004 the Exchange opened a Hong Kong Office and has attracted more than 200 companies from the Asia-Pacific region.

What other large Stock Exchanges do you know?

VII. Oral practice.

Exercise 19. Analyze the statistical data. Look through the diagram presenting the latest situation at the stock market. Compare information with the text. What has changed? Suppose your reasons. Suggest future forecast.

Exercise 20. Sum up all the information you got on the topic. Find additional information if needed and fill in the chart. Discuss the results of your work with your group-mates.

Exercise 21. Speak on the topic using the chart you have filled in.