Headquartered in Sao Paulo.
Market Capitalization (2011, USD Billions) – 1,229;
Trade Value (2011, USD Billions) – 931.
Founded in 1890, today BM&F Bovespa is the largest stock exchange in South America and 8th largest in the world by market capitalization. It is the most important Brazilian institution to intermediate equity market transactions and the only securities, commodities and futures exchange in Brazil.
BM&F Bovespa acts as a driver for the Brazilian capital markets. There are about 365 listed companies at Bovespa and its benchmark indicator is the Indice Bovespa (IBOVESPA), which is made up of 50 stocks.
IBOVESPA: Total return index comprising the most representative companies in the market, both by market cap and traded volume. It is the benchmark index of São Paulo Stock Exchange. It is the oldest BOVESPA index, and it is being broadcast since 1968.