Trade Value on Asian Exchanges Overtakes Europe

Mar. 9 – The value of trading on stock exchanges in Asia has overtaken that of Europe for the first time, according to recent data released for 2009.

According to the World Federation of Exchanges, about US$18.6 trillion was traded on the 16 Asian bourses that are members of the WFE, while Europe’s 26 members achieved US$13 trillion. The European figures also include exchanges in the Middle East and Africa. The WFE has said that this trend has continued during 2010. IPO finance raised by China and Hong Kong last year was also double that of the United States.

The trend is set to continue with news that Eurex, Europe’s largest derivatives exchange, has admitted its first China member. Eurex also expanded into Asia and opened up offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo last year. Asia’s stock exchanges include those in China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea and Australia.