bourse

bourse bo͝ors [key], term applied to a European stock exchange. The first international bourse was established in Antwerp in the 16th cent. The Paris bourse, dating from 1720 but completely reorganized in 1999, consists of the main exchange, equivalent to the New York Stock Exchange, plus the Matif (the derivatives exchange) and the Monep (the equity and index options market). In 1999 the Paris bourse and seven other major European bourses agreed to form a partnership that would create a pan-European stock exchange. That same year, the Paris bourse signed an agreement with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Singapore International Money Exchange to create a “global alliance” covering the European, U.S., and Asian time zones, allowing for trading 24 hours a day.

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