London, 5 March 2026 – The World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) is pleased to announce the start of its 12th annual Ring the Bell (RTB) for Gender Equality campaign. This initiative brings together more than 110 exchanges and CCPs worldwide as they highlight the importance of advancing gender equality in financial markets around International Women’s Day.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Give to Gain”, alongside the UN Women theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL women and girls”.
Over the coming week participating exchanges and clearing houses will host bell-ringing ceremonies, events and workshops to celebrate and support women’s involvement in public markets, details of which can be found on the WFE RTB for Gender Equality website.
This month the WFE also published its 2026 WFE Women Leaders List and a special edition of Focus Magazine dedicated to this year’s honourees. The WFE Women Leaders list celebrates the impressive women within our membership that demonstrate leadership and serve as an inspiration to their peers and colleagues.
Nandini Sukumar, CEO of the World Federation of Exchanges, commented, “In honour of International Women’s Day, Exchanges and CCPs are highlighting the importance of fostering inclusive financial markets. Our members are leading the industry in empowering women to invest and trade in safe and trusted environments, enabling them to finance their futures.”
The WFE partners with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative, UN Global Compact and UN Women in this initiative. The full list of participating exchanges and CCPs is published here.
For more information, please contact:
Oonagh Shiel
Communications Manager
communications@world-exchanges.org
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 the providers of over 250 pieces of market infrastructure, including standalone CCPs that are not part of exchange groups. Of our members, 37% are in Asia Pacific, 43% in EMEA and 20% in the Americas region. The WFE’s 87 member CCPs and clearing services collectively ensure that risk takers post some USD 1.1 trillion (equivalent) of resources to back their positions, in the form of initial margin and default fund requirements. The exchanges covered by WFE data are home to over 49,054 listed companies, and the market capitalization of these entities is over USD116.58tr; around USD155tr in trading annually passes through WFE members (at end-2024).
The WFE is the definitive source for exchange-traded statistics and publishes over 350 market data indicators. Its free statistics database stretches back 50 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 policymakers and regulators in an open, collaborative way, reflecting the central, public role that exchanges and CCPs play in a globally integrated financial system. If you have any further questions, or wish to follow-up on our contribution, the WFE remains at your disposal. [1]
Website: www.world-exchanges.org
Twitter: @TheWFE
[1] Our EU Transparency Register number is 973382524675-69