World Federation Of Stock Exchanges

The World Federation of Stock Exchanges, more commonly known as the World Federation of Exchanges, is an international trade group that supports the interests of regulated securities exchanges around the world, and promotes widespread access to financial markets and the safety and soundness of the global financial system.

The World Federation of Exchanges is located in London, the United Kingdom. The private company was established in 1961, and today it represents more than 200 different exchanges and clearing houses. These venues are the home of listings for more than 45,000 companies, the combined value of which is $82.5 trillion, as of 2017. 

The World Federation of Exchanges provides a number of different services for financial market participants. It publishes a wide array of statistics on securities markets, as well as more than 350 market indicators. The WEF also plays a role facilitating the spread of ideas and best practices throughout the financial services industry. It often convenes forums, debates, and conferences where industry participants can discuss important issues in financial market structure, like cross-border regulation or high-frequency trading. 

The World Federation of Exchanges aims to be the most important global advocacy group for the companies around the world that facilitate the trading of financial assets. Because financial services is a heavily regulated industry, and because those regulations can differ greatly from country to country, a primary goal of the group is to advocate for smart regulation that is harmonized across borders. 

It also seeks to provide value to its members through the dissemination of vital information to the industry, and by convening meetings where members of the industry can share information and network. To this end, the World Federation of Exchanges stages several events each year, including The WFE General Assembly & Annual Meeting, which is held each year by one of its member organizations. 

The World Federation of Exchanges also publishes numerous statistics, many of which are contained in its Annual Statistics Guide. Market participants can find in the guide such valuable information as the total market capitalization of companies listed on various stock exchanges, the total value of bonds issued across the globe, or the total notional value of derivatives being traded in specific markets. It also maintains a database on initial public offerings made on member exchanges. The WEF is governed by a board of directors, which meets three times per year to oversee the management of the organization.