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The Parisian Exchange

An academic exploration of Euronext Paris, from its historic origins to its modern role in global finance.

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Overview

France's Premier Trading Venue

Euronext Paris, formerly known as the Paris Bourse (French: Bourse de Paris), stands as a regulated securities trading venue within France. It holds a significant position as Europe's second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization, trailing only the London Stock Exchange as of December 2023.

Market Scale and Reach

As of 2022, Euronext Paris hosted 795 listed companies, collectively boasting a substantial market capitalization exceeding US$4.58 trillion. This robust ecosystem underscores its critical role in facilitating capital formation and investment across the European economic landscape.

A Founding Euronext Member

Since September 2000, the Paris Bourse has been an integral component of Euronext, a pan-European exchange. It was a co-founder of this major initiative, alongside the Amsterdam Stock Exchange and the Brussels Stock Exchange, a collaboration that led to its rebranding as Euronext Paris.

Historical Trajectory

Early Genesis and Regulation

The origins of the Paris stock market can be traced back to the early 18th century, gaining initial prominence through the trading activities of John Law's Company between 1717 and 1721. A foundational government decree in 1724 provided its first permanent regulatory framework, a date sometimes cited as the market's formal inception.

The Era of Agents de Change

From the mid-19th century, the official stock markets in Paris were managed by the Compagnie des agents de change. This body was directed by an elected syndical council of stockbrokers. The number of official stockbrokers, known as agents de change, was limited to approximately 60. These individuals were strictly intermediaries, prohibited from trading for their own accounts, defining the Paris Bourse as an order-driven market. A parallel market, "La Coulisse," also operated until the mid-20th century.

Transition to Electronic Trading

Until the late 1980s, the market operated as an open outcry exchange within the Palais Brongniart. However, in 1986, the Paris Bourse initiated the implementation of an electronic trading system, known as CAC (Cotation Assistée en Continu), a version of the Computer Assisted Trading System (CATS). By 1989, the quotation process was fully automated, marking a significant modernization of its operations.

Reform and Euronext Integration

A pivotal legislative reform in 1988 restructured the governance of the Paris stock exchange, transferring ownership to the `Compagnie des agents de change`, which subsequently rebranded as the `Société des Bourses Françaises` (SBF). In 1999, SBF absorbed the French financial derivatives exchanges MATIF and MONEP, renaming itself `Paris Bourse-SBF`. The following year, SBF played a leading role in the merger that established Euronext, solidifying Paris's position within a broader European financial framework.

Historic Locations

A Journey Through Paris

The Paris securities markets have occupied several notable sites throughout their long history, reflecting periods of growth, upheaval, and modernization.

  • Early 18th Century: Rue Quincampoix - The market's initial prominent location, near Les Halles, active until its closure by government decree in March 1720 amidst the Mississippi bubble turmoil.
  • 1720-1793: Various Temporary Sites - Following the closure on Rue Quincampoix, the market temporarily moved to Place Vendôme, the garden of the Hôtel de Soissons, and eventually the rear garden of Hôtel Tubeuf (part of John Law's Company headquarters). Operations were suspended in June 1793 during the French Revolution.
  • 1795-1818: Post-Revolutionary Resurgence - Reopened in May 1795 within the Louvre Palace, then moved to the church of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires (January 1796), the Palais-Royal (October 1807), and the former Couvent des Filles-Saint-Thomas (March 1818).
  • 1826-Late 1980s: Palais Brongniart - The stock exchange found its long-term home in the Palais Brongniart, a neoclassical edifice designed by Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart and completed by Éloi Labarre. This building, owned by the City of Paris, served as the primary trading floor for over a century and a half. Later additions were made by Jean-Baptiste-Frederic Cavel. After Euronext ceased using it, it was repurposed as an events venue.
  • 1988-2015: Rue Cambon - Following the 1988 reform, the SBF (later Euronext Paris) relocated to 39, rue Cambon. This building served as its headquarters until 2015, when operations moved to La Défense. The Rue Cambon building now houses offices for Chanel.

Operational Framework

Trading Platforms

Euronext Paris operates the MATIF futures exchange, which facilitates the trading of futures and options on interest rate products and various commodities. Additionally, it manages MONEP, handling equity and index futures and options. All these products are traded electronically utilizing the Nouveau Système de Cotation (NSC) system, a standardized platform adopted across all Euronext member exchanges.

Clearing and Settlement

Transactions executed on Euronext Paris are cleared through LCH.Clearnet, a central counterparty clearing house that ensures the integrity and efficiency of trades. The cash settlement process adheres to a T+2 standard, meaning that the exchange of cash and securities occurs two business days after the trade date.

Trading Hours

The exchange operates from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM Central European Time (CET), Monday through Friday, aligning with standard European financial market hours. This schedule provides consistent access for market participants to engage in trading activities.

Market Structure & Indices

Equity Market Segmentation

The French equities market is strategically segmented into distinct sections to cater to various company sizes and growth profiles:

  • Premier Marché: Formerly known as the Official List, this segment hosts large French and international companies, alongside the majority of bond issues.
  • Second Marché: Dedicated to medium-sized companies, providing them with a platform for listing and capital access.
  • Nouveau Marché: This market is tailored for fast-growing startup companies seeking capital to finance their expansion, and it is integrated with Euro.nm, the European equity growth market.
  • Marché Libre: A non-regulated third market, administered by Euronext Paris, for transactions involving securities not listed on the other three regulated markets.

Key Indices

Euronext Paris calculates a comprehensive family of indices that serve as crucial benchmarks for market performance and investment strategies:

  • CAC 40: The exchange's primary benchmark index, disseminated in real-time, representing the 40 largest French stocks.
  • SBF 120 Index: A broader benchmark for investment funds, encompassing the components of the CAC 40 and additional liquid stocks.
  • SBF 250 Index: Designed to measure the long-term performance of equity portfolios, this index includes all stocks from the SBF 120 and is structured by sector.
  • MIDCAC Index: Comprises 100 of the most liquid medium-sized stocks from the Premier Marché and Nouveau Marché, calculated based on opening and closing prices, serving as a benchmark for specialized funds.
  • Second Marché Index: Specifically tracks the performance of companies listed on the Second Marché.
  • Nouveau Marché Index: Represents the performance of stocks within the growth market, catering to emerging companies.
  • SBF-FCI Index: Based on a selection of convertible bonds that collectively represent at least 70% of the total capitalization of this market, calculated twice daily.

Derivatives & Commodities

Beyond equities, Euronext Paris facilitates a robust derivatives market. MONEP trades both short-term and long-term stock options, as well as futures and options on a family of Dow Jones indices. Euronext Commodities offers a range of products, including commodity futures and options on European rapeseed, futures on rapeseed meal, European rapeseed oil, milling wheat, corn, wood pellets, dairy products, and Paris Real Estate, reflecting the diverse economic sectors it serves.

Key Figures

Financial Performance

For the fiscal year concluding December 2004, Euronext Paris reported sales of US$522 million. This represented a 12.9% decrease in sales compared to the previous year, 2003.

Market Capitalization & Trading Value

As of February 28, 2007, Euronext Paris boasted a total market capitalization of listed companies amounting to US$2.9 trillion. The average daily trading value across its combined markets was approximately US$102 billion, equivalent to €77 billion, highlighting its significant liquidity and trading volume within the global financial landscape.

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Euronext Paris Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date. Financial markets are dynamic, and information can change rapidly.

This is not financial advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional financial consultation, investment advice, or market analysis. Always conduct your own due diligence, consult with qualified financial professionals, and refer to official exchange documentation for specific investment decisions or financial planning. Never disregard professional financial advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.