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Now in its fifteenth year, the Handbook is widely regarded as the definitive guide to stock, derivatives and commodity trading worldwide. The 1100 pages of the 2005 edition provide detailed coverage of 240 exchanges and trading venues in 116 countries, ranging from Albania to Zimbabwe. New exchanges this year include the Multi-Commodity Exchange of India and Korea Exchange, the new bourse formed from the merger of the Korea Stock Exchange, the Korea Futures Exchange and the KOSDAQ Stock Market.
The extensive information provided for each exchange includes the names of key personnel, trading systems, clearing and settlement systems and taxation rules. The wide-ranging statistical information includes market size, trading statistics and most-traded stocks.
The Handbook also contains detailed information on hundreds of futures and options contracts, from traditional commodities, through financial contracts based on exchange rates, interest rates and indices, to the latest contracts for trading in carbon emission allowances that have been launched following the Kyoto Agreement.
In addition to traditional exchanges the Handbook covers electronic communication networks such as Instinet and Archipelago, and international organisations such as the International Securities Markets Association. It also provides information on the major index providers, and lists contact information for regulators and industry bodies worldwide.
The factual information in the Handbook is supplemented by a wide range of articles and opinion pieces written by industry experts, addressing key policy and technical issues for the exchanges industry. Contributors to the 2005 edition include Paul Arlman, Secretary General, Federation of European Securities Exchanges; Junius Peake, Professor of Finance, Kenneth W Monfort College of Business, University of Northern Colorado; and Paul Chow, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited. All articles are available free of charge on-line at www.exchange-handbook.co.uk/articles.cfm
The Handbook has been designed for ease of use, with a range of indexes giving rapid access to exchange details, personnel, contract specifications and exchange indices.
The Handbook can be ordered on-line at www.exchange-handbook.co.uk .
