Frankfurt Stock Exchange

The Frankfurt Stock Exchange (German: Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse, FWB) is the world's 10th largest stock exchange by market capitalization. Located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is owned and operated by Deutsche Börse (FWB:  DB1), which also owns the European futures exchange Eurex and the clearing company Clearstream. It is located in the district of Innenstadt and within the central business district known as the Bankenviertel.

The Frankfurt Stock Exchange accounts for over 90 percent of the turnover in the German market and a very large share of the European market. In 2010, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange agreed to move to abolish floor trading and completed this transition in May 2011. Today, trading takes place exclusively via the Xetra system, with redundant floor brokers taking on the role of market-makers on the new platform.

More than 14 international exchanges have adopted Xetra (including the Vienna Stock Exchange in 1999, the Irish Stock Exchange in 2000 and the Budapest Stock Exchange in 2003). Approximately 47% of the 300 market participants in Frankfurt come from abroad. As of November, 2010, companies from more than 80 countries list on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange with 49% from North and South America, 31% from Europe (including Russia), 14% from Asia and 6% from Australia and Africa.

The Frankfurt Stock Exchange has more than 250 international trading institutions and more than 4,500 traders. Investors directly connected to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange represent 35% of the world's investment capital.

The origins of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange go back to the 9th century and a free letter by Emperor Louis the German to hold free trade fairs. By the 16th century Frankfurt developed into a wealthy and busy city with an economy based on trade and financial services.

In 1585 a bourse was established to set up fixed currency exchange rates. During the following centuries Frankfurt developed into one of the world's first stock exchanges - next to London and Paris. Bankers like Mayer Amschel Rothschild and Max Warburg had substantial influence on Frankfurt's financial trade.

In 1874 Frankfurt Stock Exchange moved into its new building at Börsenplatz.

It was only in 1949 after World War II that the Frankfurt Stock Exchange finally established as the leading stock exchange in Germany with consequently incoming national and international investments.