OREANDA-NEWS. October 13, 2011. On October 12, 2011 RTS Stock Exchange became a full-fledged member of World Federation of Exchanges which gathers more than one hundred exchanges around the world.  The decision was made at the General Assembly of WFE held in Johannesburg.

Granting RTS the full membership in WFE indicates recognition of quality and reliability of the RTS Group markets for international investors by the global financial community.

WFE membership is based on the following main requirements:

organization and transparency of functioning ;

compliance with ISSA/ G-30 (Group of Thirty) requirements;

compliance of accounting reporting system with International Accounting Standards (IAS).

be significant within its country of origin;

opportunities for capital raising and risk management;

investor protection mechanisms, etc.

RTS was recommended to be a full member of WFE after the application of the exchange was considered and representatives of the global financial centers of the USA, the UK, Germany, China and Brazil visited the Exchange.  

With its new status, RTS Stock Exchange has gained an opportunity to participate in discussions and developing WFE official positions and recommendations on improving financial markets including enhancing regulation procedures.

RTS Stock Exchange was an affiliate member of the Federation since 2007. In April 2010 it applied to become a full member.  On October 10, 2010 the Board of Directors of WFE approved the application of OJSC RTS and decided to send a group of inspectors to the exchange.  In late January the commission of inspectors had an official visit to RTS which resulted in recommendations for granting RTS the full membership in WFE.

The membership is comprised of 54 regulated exchanges from all regions of the world. Together, these exchanges account for over 97% of world stock market capitalization, and most of its exchange-traded futures, options, listed investment funds, and bonds. WFE participants can be traditional trading grounds, derivatives exchanges, clearing companies, investment institutes, depositaries, IT-companies, internet-traders, leading world banking institutions and dealers companies.