Market structure The organization Amsterdam Exchanges is the central Dutch securities exchange for stocks, bonds, options and futures. It is divided into the stock exchange, the option and futures exchange, the agricultural futures market, clearing and data processing, and market and price information. It was created on January 1 1997 when the Amsterdam Stock Exchange merged with the European Options Exchange. The company also includes the settlement operations of these exchanges and the depositories Necigef and NIEC. The merger is expected to considerably boost its position in the international arena as it strengthens the new entity's commercial thrust and provides numerous synergistic and efficiency benefits.
There are 651 companies and investment institutions listed on the stock market operated by Amsterdam Exchanges and its bond market lists bonds issued by 866 companies and governments, both Dutch and foreign. In terms of turnover, the stock market in Amsterdam ranks fifth in Europe and eleventh in the world while in terms of market capitalization it also ranks fifth in Europe but ninth in the world.
Amsterdam Exchanges has developed and now manages three leading indices: the Amsterdam Exchanges-index (AEX-index), the Dutch Top 5 index and the Amsterdam Midkap-index (AMX-index).