WFE's Ring the Bell initiative draws record support

Exchanges around the world have united to promote financial literacy and boost financial inclusion, ringing the bell in multiple countries on multiple days all week during World Investor Week (“WIW”) 2020.

The World Federation of Exchanges (“WFE”), the global industry group for exchanges and CCPs, is supporting the International Organization of Securities Commissions (“IOSCO”) WIW 2020, which runs from 5 October to 11 October 2020. WIW is a week-long, global campaign to raise awareness about the importance of investor education and protection and promote financial literacy.

In 2020, WFE members ranging from New Zealand to Brazil held virtual opening or closing bell ringing ceremonies, or a workshop, during the week to promote the cause and drive awareness of why people need to focus on financial literacy and how it can improve life outcomes. Around 40 exchanges are part of the initiative, bringing together stakeholders to celebrate the progress that has been made and looking to partner on the road ahead.

While the Covid-19 pandemic means many exchanges are still operating remotely, the preparedness that has allowed them to provide resilient and robust market structure during this crisis also means that a virtual bell ringing poses no challenges. Many of the events will be supported by the production of educational content, investor awareness campaigns, and seminars on financial literacy.

September's WFE’s monthly Focus magazine is a Special Edition devoted to Financial Literacy.

Nandini Sukumar, Chief Executive Officer, the WFE said: “Financial literacy has never been an optional add-on for exchanges and CCPs. We have always invested in this work because the industry believes in inclusive growth, and that markets-based financing helps pave the way to sustainable economic expansion. Financial literacy is also dear to us as the nature and ethos of public markets enshrines investor protection at the heart. Education is part of that mandate and a significant factor in developing markets to maturity and beyond. All market infrastructures, whether large or small, whether in a developed market or a frontier market, prioritise investor education at the heart of their business and as a foundation of market integrity. The pandemic and economic crisis make this even more important.”

The exchanges participating in the Ring the Bell for Financial Literacy 2020 initiative are:

Name of Exchange / CCP (alphabetical order)	Opening Bell, Closing Bell or other
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX)	Opening Bell
Amman Stock Exchange	Opening Bell
Athens Stock Exchange	Opening Bell
B3 - Brasil Bolsa Balcão	Opening Bell
Bahrain Bourse	Other
BME Spanish Exchanges	Other
Bolsa de Comercio de Buenos Aires	Other
Bolsa de Comercio de Santiago	Opening Bell
Bolsa de Valores de Lima	Other
Bursa Malaysia	Opening remarks by CEO for a Webinar
Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange PLC	Closing Bell
Deutsche Boerse	Opening Bell
Dubai Financial Market (DFM)	Opening Bell
The Egyptian Exchange	Opening Bell
Hochiminh Stock Exchange	Other
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing	Opening Bell
Intercontinental Exchange	Other
Japan Exchange Group, Inc.	Other
Johannesburg Stock Exchange	Opening Bell
Kazakhstan Stock Exchange	Opening Bell
Korea Exchange	Opening Bell
London Stock Exchange Group	Opening Bell
Luxembourg Stock Exchange	Other
Moscow Exchange	Opening Bell
Nasdaq	Closing Bell
National Stock Exchange of India Limited	Closing Bell
Nigerian Stock Exchange	Other
NZX Limited	Opening Bell
Palestine Exchange	Opening Bell
Philippine Stock Exchange	Opening Bell
Qatar Stock Exchange	Opening Bell
Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul)	Other
Shanghai Stock Exchange	Other
Shenzhen Stock Exchange	Closing Bell
Singapore Exchange Limited	Opening Bell
Taipei Exchange	Other
Taiwan Stock Exchange	Opening Bell
The Stock Exchange of Thailand	Opening Bell
TMX Group / TSX	Opening Bell
Tunis Stock Exchange	Opening Bell

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About the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE):

Established in 1961, the WFE is the global industry association for exchanges and clearing houses. Headquartered in London, it represents over 250 market infrastructure providers, including standalone CCPs that are not part of exchange groups. Of our members, 35% are in Asia-Pacific, 45% in EMEA and 20% in the Americas. WFE’s 57 member CCPs collectively ensure that risk takers post some $800 billion (equivalent) of resources to back their positions, in the form of initial margin and default fund requirements. WFE exchanges are home to nearly 53,000 listed companies, and the market capitalisation of these entities is over $93 trillion; around $88 trillion (EOB) in trading annually passes through WFE members (at end 2019).

The WFE is the definitive source for exchange-traded statistics, and publishes over 350 market data indicators. Its free statistics database stretches back more than 40 years, and provides information and insight into developments on global exchanges. The WFE works with standard-setters, policy makers, regulators and government organisations around the world to support and promote the development of fair, transparent, stable and efficient markets. The WFE shares regulatory authorities’ goals of ensuring the safety and soundness of the global financial system.

With extensive experience of developing and enforcing high standards of conduct, the WFE and its members support an orderly, secure, fair and transparent environment for investors; for companies that raise capital; and for all who deal with financial risk. We seek outcomes that maximise the common good, consumer confidence and economic growth. And we engage with policy makers and regulators in an open, collaborative way, reflecting the central, public role that exchanges and CCPs play in a globally integrated financial system.

Click here to view the WFE’s website, sign up for the industry’s Focus magazine or to visit the WFE on LinkedIn. For Twitter see: @TheWF