Last Updated on 11 September, 2023 by Samuelsson

1. The first African stock exchange was founded in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire in 1962. It was known as the Abidjan Stock Exchange (ASE).

2. In 1977, the Abidjan Stock Exchange merged with the Dakar Stock Exchange to form the West African Stock Exchange (WASE).

3. The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) was established in 1960 as the Lagos Stock Exchange. It was the first stock exchange in Africa to be recognized by the World Federation of Exchanges.

4. In 1993, the NSE became the first African exchange to be admitted to the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).

5. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) was founded in 1887 and is the largest stock exchange in Africa.

6. The JSE is the 19th largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalization.

7. The Egypt Exchange (EGX) was founded in 1883 and is the oldest stock exchange in Africa.

8. The Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) was founded in 1929 and is the second largest stock exchange in Africa after the JSE.

9. The Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) was founded in 1954 and is the third largest stock exchange in Africa after the JSE and CSE.

10. In 1995, the NSE became the first African exchange to convert to electronic trading.

11. The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) was founded in 1990 and is the fourth largest stock exchange in Africa.

12. The Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) was founded in 1989 and is the fifth largest stock exchange in Africa.

13. The Stock Exchange of Mauritius (SEM) was founded in 1989 and is the sixth largest stock exchange in Africa.

14. The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) was founded in 1996 and is the seventh largest stock exchange in Africa.

15. The Stock Exchange of Uganda (USE) was founded in 1998 and is the eighth largest stock exchange in Africa.

16. The Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) was founded in 1998 and is the ninth largest stock exchange in Africa.

17. The Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) was founded in 1998 and is the tenth largest stock exchange in Africa.

18. The Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE) was founded in 1994 and is the eleventh largest stock exchange in Africa.

19. The Stock Exchange of Tanzania (SET) was founded in 1998 and is the twelfth largest stock exchange in Africa.

20. The Stock Exchange of Seychelles (SES) was founded in 2001 and is the thirteenth largest stock exchange in Africa.

Trading in African stock markets?

The African stock markets are exchanges across the continent that provide an important platform for companies to raise capital and for investors to buy and sell securities. They serve as a barometer for the economic health of the region, providing insight into the performance of companies and the direction of the region’s economy.

In recent years, the African stock markets have seen strong growth. Market capitalization has increased steadily, and the number of listed companies has grown significantly. The number of listed companies in Africa’s top 10 markets has grown from 1,500 to over 4,000 since 2008. This growth has been driven by a number of factors, including increased access to capital and improved corporate governance.

In terms of trading activity, African stock markets have seen an increase in the volume of trades over the past few years. The total value of trades on the continent’s exchanges rose from $17.6 billion in 2008 to nearly $50 billion in 2017. This growth can largely be attributed to the increasing number of institutional investors, such as pension funds and foreign investors, that are looking to the African markets for investment opportunities.

The African stock markets have also seen an increase in the number of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the performance of African indices. These ETFs provide investors with an easy and cost-effective way to gain exposure to the African markets.

Overall, the African stock markets provide investors with a unique opportunity to access the continent’s growing economies and a broad range of investment opportunities. The markets have experienced strong growth in recent years, and this trend is likely to continue as more investors recognize the potential of the African markets.