Global Marketplace

In my Finance Relations class, we have been talking about stock exchanges all over the world and how they are becoming more global with recent technology. The technology, Electronic Communications Networks, allows trading to be conducted electronically, and therefore, more quickly. The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ have both acquired ECN's and have become publicly held companies in the process.

This innovation, as well as many others, has taken stock exchanges to a new level. No one wants to trade on a single continent anymore, but across oceans and beyond. In regards to this, I want to mention that Borse Dubai, of the United Arab Emirates, has recently acquired a 28% stake in the London Stock Exchange and Quatar Investment Authority has acquired another 20% stake. That means almost 50% of the LSE is owned by Middle Eastern investors! The Middle East does not always come up in conversations about stock exchanges, so I think it's great that the world has embraced it and has been able to come together in a whole new arena.