The 'Toronto Stock Exchange' ('TSX'; formerly abbreviated ''TSE'') is the largest
stock exchange in
Canada and the
sixth largest in the world by
market capitalization. Based in
Toronto, it is owned and operated by
TSX Group () for the trading of senior equities. A broad range of businesses from Canada, the
United States and other countries are represented on the exchange. In addition to conventional securities, the exchange lists various
exchange-traded funds,
income trusts and
investment funds.
History
The Toronto Stock Exchange likely descended from the ''Association of Brokers'', a group formed by Toronto businessmen on
July 26,
1852. No official records of the group's transactions have survived. On
October 25,
1861, twenty-four men gathered at the
Masonic Hall to officially create the Toronto Stock Exchange. The exchange was formally incorporated by an act of the
Legislative Assembly of Ontario in
1878.
The TSX grew continuously in size and in shares traded, save for a three month period in
1914 when the exchange was shut down for fear of financial panic due to
World War I. In
1934, the Toronto Stock Exchange merged with its key competitor the
Standard Stock and Mining Exchange. The merged markets chose to keep the name Toronto Stock Exchange. In
1977, the TSX introduced
CATS (Computer Assisted Trading System), an automated trading system that started to be used for the quotation of less liquid equities.
On
April 23rd,
1997, the TSX's
trading floor closed, making it the second-largest stock exchange in North America to choose a floorless, electronic (or virtual trading) environment. In
1999, the Toronto Stock Exchange announced the appointment of
Barbara G. Stymiest to the position of President & Chief Executive Officer. She became the first female president of a North American stock exchange.
Through a realignment plan, Toronto Stock Exchange became Canada's sole exchange for the trading of senior
equities. The
Bourse de Montréal/Montreal Exchange assumed responsibility for the trading of derivatives and the
Vancouver Stock Exchange and
Alberta Stock Exchange merged to form the
Canadian Venture Exchange (CDNX) handling trading in junior equities. The Canadian Dealing Network,
Winnipeg Stock Exchange, and equities portion of the Montreal Exchange later merged with CDNX.
In
2000, the Toronto Stock Exchange became a for-profit company. In
2001, the Toronto Stock Exchange acquired the Canadian Venture Exchange, which was renamed the
TSX Venture Exchange in 2002. On
May 11,
2007, the main index of the Toronto Stock Exchange traded above the 14,000 point level for the first time ever.
The TSX Group is the leader in the oil & gas sector - more oil & gas companies are listed on Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and TSX Venture Exchange than any other exchange in the world. At the end of June 30,
2007, there were 434 oil & gas companies with a total market capitalization of $544.9 billion listed on Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange. Oil & gas companies continue to raise equity on our exchanges with $5.56 billion raised in the first half of 2007, and $10.5 billion raised in 2006. Over 10 billion oil & gas shares, valued at $169.2 billion, traded on Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange in the first half of 2007.
Companies traded on the TSX
See also
★
Stock market index
★
List of stock exchanges
★
List of American stock exchanges
External links
★
Official site
★
TSX history
★
The Exchange Tower on Emporis.com