Friday, April 3, 2009

Toronto Stock Exchange


The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE) now known publicly as the "TMX" is the largest stock exchange in Canada, the third largest in North America and the seventh largest in the world by market capitalization. Based in Canada's largest city, Toronto, it is owned and operated by TMX Group for the trading of senior equities. A broad range of businesses from Canada, the United States, Europe, and other countries are represented on the exchange. In addition to conventional securities, the exchange lists various exchange-traded funds, split share corporations, income trusts and investment funds. The TMX is a leader in the mining and oil & gas sector. More mining and oil & gas companies are listed on the TMX than any other exchange in the world.[1]

History:

The Toronto Stock Exchange likely descended from the Association of Brokers, a group formed by Toronto businessmen on July 26, 1852. No official records of the group's transactions have survived. On October 25, 1861, twenty-four men gathered at the Masonic Hall to officially create the Toronto Stock Exchange.[2] The exchange was formally incorporated by an act of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1878.
The TSE grew continuously in size and in shares traded, save for a three month period in 1914 when the exchange was shut down for fear of financial panic due to World War I. In 1934, the Toronto Stock Exchange merged with its key competitor the Standard Stock and Mining Exchange. The merged markets chose to keep the name Toronto Stock Exchange. In 1977, the TSE introduced CATS (Computer Assisted Trading System), an automated trading system that started to be used for the quotation of less liquid equities.
On April 23, 1997, the TSE's trading floor closed, making it the second-largest stock exchange in North America to choose a floorless, electronic (or virtual trading) environment. In 1999, the Toronto Stock Exchange announced the appointment of Barbara G. Stymiest to the position of President & Chief Executive Officer.

Through a realignment plan, Toronto Stock Exchange became Canada's sole exchange for the trading of senior equities. The Bourse de Montréal/Montreal Exchange assumed responsibility for the trading of derivatives and the Vancouver Stock Exchange and Alberta Stock Exchange merged to form the Canadian Venture Exchange (CDNX) handling trading in junior equities. The Canadian Dealing Network, Winnipeg Stock Exchange, and equities portion of the Montreal Exchange later merged with CDNX.
The TMX Group is the leader in the oil & gas sector - more oil & gas companies are listed on Toronto Stock Exchange (TMX) and TMX Venture Exchange than any other exchange in the world. At the end of June 30, 2007, there were 434 oil & gas companies with a total market capitalization of $544.9 billion listed on Toronto Stock Exchange and TMX Venture Exchange. Oil & gas companies continue to raise equity on these exchanges with $5.56 billion raised in the first half of 2007, and $10.5 billion raised in 2006. Over 10 billion oil & gas shares, valued at $169.2 billion, traded on Toronto Stock Exchange and TMX Venture Exchange in the first half of 2007.

No comments:

Post a Comment