According to recently released data, the Spanish stock market has a total market capitalization of US$ 1.93 trillion. This places it at number 7 on the list of the world’s largest stock exchanges, which is not bad at all for a country of 45 million people.

Here is the full list of the Top 10 Stock Exchanges by market capitalization:
(Figures in trillions of U.S. dollars)

1. NYSE - $21.79
2. Nasdaq Stock Market - $11.81
3. London Stock Exchange - $7.57
4. Tokyo Stock Exchange - $5.82
5. Euronext - $3.85
6. Deutsche Boerse (Germany) - $2.74
7. BME Spanish Exchanges - $1.93
8. Borsa Italiana - $1.59
9. Swiss Exchange - $1.40
10. Korea Stock Exchange $1.34

Source: Reuters and World Federation of Exchanges Web site

It is interesting to note that exchanges in emerging countries such as China, Russia or Brazil are still not on the Top 10. However, recent stock exchange mergers and the growth of these and other stock markets will result in a significant variation on this Top 10 in a few years.

The main Spanish stock exchange (known as Bolsa de Madrid) was officially founded in 1831. It now consists of 41 major financial institutions and 12 established securities dealers, and about 1500 domestic and foreign companies had their equity securities listed on it.

Trading hours are from 9 to 17:30 GMT+01:00.