History of Paris Stock Exchange

The Paris Stock Exchange is now known as the NYSE Euronext (NYX) with the merger of equals between the leading U.S. and pan-European securities trading exchanges the holding company of the New York Stock Exchange and Euronext N.V., the Paris-based first European integrated stock exchange that was formed in September 2000 by the merger of the Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam exchanges.
This merger came through only after Euronext N.V., the reformed Paris Stock Exchange , which is the largest exchange in Europe following the London Stock Exchange, rejected a proposal by German rival Deutsche Börse for a cash-and-stock merger with an offer of more than €8.5bn ($11bn).
With the total market capitalization of companies listed on the Paris Stock Exchange as well as the Stock Exchanges of New York, Amsterdam and Brussels taken together, that is, NYSE Euronext (NYX) amounting to much more than €21 ($28) trillion and an average daily trading value in the range of €92 ($123) billion as reported in the first quarter of 2007, NYSE Euronext seeks to provide the best quality and integrity available in the market in addition to advanced products and services to investors, issuers, and all those who make use of its markets.
The Paris Stock Exchange controls the MATIF futures exchange and MONEP besides equities, index futures and options. The NSC system is employed in the electronic trading of products. LCH.Clearnet is used to close all dealings.
The CAC 40 is the stock market index of the Paris Stock Exchange . The CAC 40 is composed of French companies however shares in the vicinity of 50 percent, that is almost half, of these companies is owned by foreign investors.
The equities market of the Paris Stock Exchange is divided into the following sections:
The Premier Marché, previously known as the Official List - large French and foreign companies, and most Bond issues are included.
The Second Marché - medium-sized companies are enlisted.
Nouveau or New Marché - companies that are new on the block and require capital to support rapid expansion, get enlisted on this market which is associated with the European equity growth market, Euro.nm.
Marché Libre is an additional market that is controlled by Euronext Paris for transactions in securities not listed on the other three markets. This market is however not regulated.

World Economy - Global Economic Profile

The world economy grew 5.2% in 2007 powered by growth in China (11%), India (9%) and Russia (8%). The global economy faces a real risk of 1970s style stagflation however, with resource constraints tighter than ever before. Things could scarcely have looked rosier for the world economy at the start of 2007. The Emerging Markets, led by the giants of China, India, Russia and Brazil (the BRIC countries) had been posting 7%-10% grow rates for years. Property and stock market booms had brought consistent growth in North America and Europe. Investment was bringing economic development to much of the Middle East and Africa, and even Japan was recovering from its deflationary 'Lost Years'.Economic conditions within these countries play a major role in setting the economic atmosphere of less well-to-do nations and their economies. In many aspects, developing and less developed economies depend on the developed countries for their economic wellbeing. Theories were even circulating that thanks to the growth of the developing world, we might enjoy years of unfettered growth, as new markets would go through successive growth spurts and counter the effects of slowing growth elsewhere. It was suggested that Asia was 'decoupling' from the US and able to grow under its own steam thanks to its two 'Awakening Giants'.