The World Federation of Exchanges ("WFE"), the global industry group for exchanges and CCPs, is pleased to confirm that its member exchanges are taking part in the fifth annual 'Ring the Bell for Gender Equality' initiative.
For the fifth consecutive year, a global collaboration across 80 exchanges around the world plan to ring opening or closing bells to celebrate International Women’s Day 2019 (Friday 8 March 2019).
The events are a partnership between IFC, Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative, UN Global Compact, UN Women, the World Federation of Exchanges and Women in ETFs, to raise awareness about the business case for women’s economic empowerment and the opportunities for the private sector to advance gender equality and sustainable development.
The UN Women’s theme for International Women’s Day 2019 is ‘Think equal, build smart, innovate for change’. The theme focuses on innovative ways in which the private sector can advance gender equality and women’s empowerment, particularly in the areas of social protection systems, access to public services, and sustainable infrastructure.
In addition to the bell ringing events, the six bell ringing partner organisations applaud the work done to date, and encourage exchanges to take further action to improve gender equality in their markets. Recommended actions include signing the CEO Statement of Support for the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs); promoting gender equality in the workforce; introducing gender equality standards and supporting gender-equality themed investment products; providing guidance, training, mentoring, and education to market participants on gender equality and the role of gender diversity in business performance; and encouraging or requiring listed companies to publicly report on relevant gender metrics.
In March 2018, a record 65 exchanges rang their bells for gender equality, and this year looks set to be even bigger, with 80 exchanges confirmed as taking part.
Nandini Sukumar, CEO, WFE said: “We are pleased so many WFE members are participating in this important initiative, which has gone from strength to strength over the past five years. We are proud to raise awareness about this essential social and economic issue, both within the financial sector, and on a wider, global scale.”
Exchanges taking part this year:
Country |
Exchange |
Date of Event |
Opening/Closing |
Argentina |
Bolsas y Mercados Argentinos (BYMA) |
12th March |
Opening |
Armenia |
Armenia Securities Exchange |
12th March |
Opening |
Australia |
Australian Securities Exchange |
8th March |
Opening |
Bahrain |
Bahrain Bourse |
14th March |
TBC |
Bangladesh |
Chittagong Stock Exchange |
7th March |
|
Bangladesh |
Dhaka Stock Exchange |
12th March |
Opening |
Belgium |
Euronext Brussels |
8th March |
Opening |
Brazil |
B3 |
8th March |
Opening |
Canada |
Aequitas NEO Exchange |
8th March |
Opening |
Canada |
Toronto Stock Exchange |
8th March |
Opening |
Chile |
Bolsa de Comercio de Santiago |
21st March |
TBC |
Colombia |
Bolsa de Valores de Colombia |
3rd April |
Opening |
Costa Rica |
Bolsa Nacional de Valores |
11th March |
Closing |
Croatia |
Zagreb Stock Exchange |
8th March |
|
Denmark |
Nasdaq Copenhagen |
8th March |
Opening |
Egypt |
Cairo Stock Exchange |
4th March |
Opening |
Estonia |
Nasdaq Tallinn |
8th March |
Opening |
Ethiopia |
Ethiopia Stock Exchange |
6th March |
Closing |
Fiji |
South Pacific Stock Exchange |
8th March |
Opening |
Finland |
Nasdaq Helsinki |
8th March |
Opening |
France |
Euronext Paris |
8th March |
Opening |
Georgia |
Georgian Stock Exchange |
12th March |
Closing |
Germany |
Deutsche Börse |
8th March |
Opening |
Greece |
Athens Stock Exchange |
8th March |
|
HK |
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing |
8th March |
Opening |
Iceland |
Nasdaq Iceland |
8th March |
Opening |
India |
National Stock Exchange of India |
8th March |
Closing |
Indonesia |
Indonesia Stock Exchange |
13th March |
TBC |
Iraq |
Iraq Stock Exchange |
10th March |
Opening |
Ireland |
Euronext Dublin |
8th March |
Opening |
Israel |
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange |
3rd March |
Opening |
Italy |
Borsa Italiana |
8th March |
Opening |
Jamaica |
Jamaica Stock Exchange |
8th March |
Opening |
Japan |
Japan Exchange Group |
8th March |
Opening |
Kazakhstan |
Kazakhstan Stock Exchange |
7th March |
Closing |
Kenya |
Nairobi Securities Exchange |
8th March |
Opening |
Kuwait |
Boursa Kuwait |
7th March |
Closing |
Latvia |
Nasdaq Riga |
8th March |
Opening |
Lebanon |
Beirut Stock Exchange |
7th March |
Closing |
Lithuania |
Nasdaq Vilnius |
8th March |
Opening |
Luxembourg |
Luxembourg Stock Exchange |
8th March |
|
Malaysia |
Bursa Malaysia |
14th March |
Opening |
Mexico |
Bolsa Mexicana de Valores |
8th March |
Opening |
Mongolia |
Mongolian Stock Exchange |
7th March |
Opening |
Myanmar |
Yangon Stock Exchange |
8th March |
Closing |
Nepal |
Nepal Stock Exchange Limited |
8th March |
|
Netherlands |
Euronext Amsterdam |
8th March |
Opening |
Nigeria |
Nigeria Stock Exchange |
8th March |
Closing |
Norway |
Oslo Bors |
8th March |
|
Pakistan |
Pakistan Stock Exchange |
8th March |
Opening |
Palestine |
Palestine Exchange |
11th March |
TBC |
Panama |
Bolsa de Panama |
15th March |
TBC |
Peru |
Bolsa de Valores de Lima |
12th March |
Opening |
Philippines |
Philippine Stock Exchange |
8th March |
Closing |
Poland |
Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) |
8th March |
Opening |
Portugal |
Euronext Lisbon |
8th March |
|
Qatar |
Qatar Stock Exchange |
10th March |
Opening |
Regional* |
BRVM Stock Exchange |
8th March |
Opening |
Romania |
Bucharest Stock Exchange |
8th March |
Opening |
Russia |
MOEX Moscow |
12th March |
Opening |
Rwanda |
Rwanda Stock Exchange |
10th March |
Opening |
Saudi Arabia |
Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) |
7th March |
|
Serbia |
Belgrade Stock Exchange |
14th March |
TBC |
Singapore |
Singapore Exchange |
5th March |
Closing |
Slovenia |
Ljubljana Stock Exchange |
8th March |
|
South Africa |
Johannesburg Stock Exchange |
8th March |
Opening |
Spain |
Bolsas y Mercados Españoles |
8th March |
|
Sri Lanka |
Colombo Stock Exchange |
7th March |
|
Sweden |
Nasdaq Stockholm |
8th March |
Opening |
Switzerland |
SIX Swiss Exchange |
8th March |
Opening |
Tanzania |
Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange PLC |
8th March |
|
Tunisia |
Tunis Stock Exchange |
8th March |
|
Uganda |
Uganda Securities Exchange |
w/c 17th March |
TBC |
UK |
London Stock Exchange |
12th March |
Opening |
United Arab Emirates |
Dubai Financial Market |
8th March |
Opening |
US |
CBOE |
8th March |
Opening |
US |
IEX |
8th March |
Opening |
US |
Nasdaq |
7th March |
Closing |
US |
NYSE |
5th March |
Opening |
Yemen |
Yemen Stock Exchange |
14th March |
Opening |