The Stock Markets in the World

The origins of the stock market as an institution begins in the late 15th century, in the medieval fairs in Western Europe.

In these fairs transaction over securities and underlying values became common practice. The term “stock market” first appeared in Bruges, specifically in the Van der Bursen bankers family, in whose palace a market of valued securities was organized. In 1460 the Antwerp stock market was created. This was the first stock market institution ever in a modern sense. Later, the London stock market was created in 1570, and in 1595 the one in Lyon; in 1794 that of Paris; in 1792 that of New York and from there on stock markets started to open in the world?s most important cities. The stock markets were consolidated after the boom of anonymous societies.

In Spain, for example, the first legally recognized was the one from Madrid in 1831, followed by Bilbao?s in 1881, Barcelona?s in 1915 and Valencia?s in 1981.

Currently, the most important stock markets in the world are those of the U.S. (NYSE, better known as Wall Street, and the NASDAQ), Japan (Tokyo), Great Britain (London), France (Paris) and Germany (Frankfurt).

Capitalization of the 50 main stock markets in the world

(in thousands of million dollars up to March 31, 2000)

  1. United States 18,166
  2. Japan    4,850
  3. England    3,057
  4. France    1,541
  5. Germany    1,527
  6. Canada       897
  7. Holland       812
  8. Italy       785
  9. Switzerland       665
  10. Taiwan       458
  11. Sweden       431
  12. Spain       398
  13. Australia       396
  14. Finland       388
  15. Hong Kong       366
  16. Korea       288
  17. Brazil       247
  18. South Africa       233
  19. India       226
  20. China       201
  21. Mexico       180
  22. Singapore       176
  23. Malasia       176
  24. Greece       170
  25. Belgium       155
  26. Denmark       115
  27. Turkey       105
  28. Portugal         83
  29. Ireland         74
  30. Chile         71
  31. Israel         71
  32. Norway         61
  33. Indonesia         52
  34. Russia         47
  35. Argentina         46
  36. Thailand         42
  37. Egypt         39
  38. Philippines         37
  39. Poland         34
  40. New Zealand        25
  41. Hungary         19
  42. Czech Republic        15
  43. Morocco         13
  44. Peru          12
  45. Pakistan          11
  46. Colombia            8
  47. Venezuela            7
  48. Jordan            5
  49. Sri Lanka            1

Note: The capitalization of a company is estimated by multiplying the market price of the stock by the number of stocks  the capital of the company has. Capitalization of a stock market is the addition of capitalization of all the companies that quote in the market.

Beginner Money Investing Stock Market and Financial Markets Capital Suppliers The Stock Markets in the World Spanish Stock Markets features Primary Market and Secondary Market Summarizing the Market