Exchanges around the world have united to promote financial literacy, investor protection and financial inclusion, ringing the bell in multiple countries on multiple days all week during World Investor Week (“WIW”) 2021.

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 4 October to 10 October 2021. WIW is a week-long, global campaign to raise awareness about the importance of investor education and protection and promote financial literacy.

In 2021, a record 78 exchanges are holding virtual bell ringing ceremonies, workshops and events this week to drive awareness of the important and necessity of financial literacy and its impact on life. 

In addition, the WFE’s monthly Focus magazine for October is a Special Edition which shines a light on Financial Literacy initiatiaves around the world.

Nandini Sukumar, Chief Executive Officer, the WFE said: “Financial literacy is more important than ever before as retail investor participation grows. 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 exchanges participating in the Ring the Bell for Financial Literacy 2021 initiative are:

Name of Exchange / CCP Opening Bell, Closing Bell or other

(alphabetical order - WFE members in bold)

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) Opening Bell

Amman Stock Exchange Opening Bell

Aquis Exchange PLC Opening Bell

Astana International Exchange Opening Bell

Athens Stock Exchange Closing Bell

B3 – Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão Opening Bell

Bahrain Bourse Opening Bell

Baku Stock Exchange Opening Bell

BME Spanish Exchanges Opening Bell

Bolsa Centroamericana de Valores Honduras Opening Bell

Bolsa de Santiago Opening Bell

Bolsa de Valores de Montevideo S.A. Opening Bell

Bolsa Mexicana de Valores Opening Bell

Borsa Istanbul Opening Bell

Borsa Italiana Opening Bell

Botswana Stock Exchange Opening Bell

Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières S.A. Opening Bell

Bursa Malaysia Opening Bell

Cboe Global Markets Closing Bell

China Financial Futures Exchange  Other

China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Other

Chittagong Stock Exchange Other

CME Group Other

Colombo Stock Exchange Opening Bell

Dalian Commodity Exchange  Other

Dar Es Salaam Stock Exchange Closing Bell

Dubai Financial Market  Opening Bell

Euronext Amsterdam Opening Bell

Euronext Brussels Opening Bell

Euronext Dublin Opening Bell

Euronext Lisbon Opening Bell

Euronext Paris Opening Bell

FMDQ Securities Exchange Opening Bell

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd Opening Bell

Japan Exchange Group, Inc. Other

Johannesburg Stock Exchange Opening Bell

Kazakhstan Stock Exchange Opening Bell

Korea Exchange Opening Bell

Latin American Stock Exchange (Latinex) Other

London Stock Exchange Group Opening Bell

Luxembourg Stock Exchange Other

Macedonian Stock Exchange Opening Bell

Malta Stock Exchange Opening Bell

Moscow Exchange Group Opening Bell

Muscat Stock Exchange Opening Bell

Namibian Stock Exchange Opening Bell

Nasdaq Copenhagen Closing Bell

Nasdaq Helsinki Opening Bell

Nasdaq Iceland Opening Bell

Nasdaq Riga Closing Bell

Nasdaq Stockholm Opening Bell

Nasdaq USA Other

Nasdaq Vilnius Opening Bell

National Stock Exchange of India Limited Closing Bell

Nigerian Exchange Closing Bell

NZX Limited Opening Bell

Oslo Børs Opening Bell

Pakistan Stock Exchange  Opening Bell

Palestine Exchange Opening Bell

Qatar Stock Exchange Opening Bell

Saudi Exchange Opening Bell

Shanghai Stock Exchange Other

Shanghai Futures Exchange Other

Shenzhen Stock Exchange Closing Bell

Singapore Exchange  Opening Bell

SIX Swiss Exchange Closing Bell

Taipei Exchange Opening Bell

Taiwan Stock Exchange Other

Tehran Stock Exchange Opening Bell

Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange Other

The Egyptian Exchange Opening Bell

The Philippine Stock Exchange Opening Bell

The Stock Exchange of Thailand Other

TMX Group Opening Bell

Tunis Stock Exchange Opening Bell

Uganda Securities Exchange Other

Wiener Börse Opening Bell

Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange Other

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 $800bn (equivalent) of resources to back their positions, in the form of initial margin and default fund requirements. WFE exchanges are home to 47,919 listed companies, and the market capitalisation of these entities is over $109 trillion; around $137 trillion (EOB) in trading annually passes through WFE members (at end 2020).

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.