OMX Exchanges is a huge securities market active in Northern Europe. OMX owns exchanges right through the Nordic and Baltic region and is also dedicated to providing services as well as technology to securities industry companies worldwide. OMX Technology is a world leader in the field of financial instruments trading systems. Established in 2003 when OM and HEX merged, OMX provides market participants with ready access to approximately 80% of Baltic and Nordic securities markets.
OMX AB became part of the NASDAQ OMX Group in February 2008 and owns and operates eight stock exchanges, namely, Copenhagen Stock Exchange, Helsinki Stock Exchange, Iceland Stock Exchange, Riga Stock Exchange, Stockholm Stock Exchange, Tallinn Stock Exchange, Armenian Stock exchange and Vilnius Stock Exchange. The company also has a 10% interest in the Oslo Stock Exchange. The single trading system provides investors with exceptional liquidity and convenient trading. OMX Exchange comes in third place as the largest exchange in equity related derivative trading contracts. The OMX technology section deals with the complete transaction chain so that all entities can achieve the greatest levels of operation. The Exchanges of OMX employs some 1,370 individuals and has seen major growth in equity turnover, market capitalization and derivative contracts. 2005 saw revenues increasing by 8% and the operating income of OMX heading up by 48%. The largest companies listed with OMX are Nordea Bank, Ericsson and Nokia. The electronic system SAXESS is used for equity trading. This is an order-based system which operates by matching orders electronically. The CLICK XT trading system is available for derivative trading.
OMX’s activities have been separated into 3 sections – the Nordic Market, the Baltic Market and the First North. OMX Nordic Exchange is the 7th biggest in Europe. The exchange embraces a number of sectors including the paper exchange, IT exchange and industrial machinery exchange. The common market created by OMX means close relationships must be formed between the exchange, brokerages, banks, central security depositories and the like. As OMX Nordic Exchange grows and achieve its goals it works to provide companies with risk capital effectively and inexpensively. Companies listed with OMX exchanges benefit from extensive exposure. Investors have an abundance of investment opportunities opened up to them. Through common listing and index structures as well as sharing trading systems, OMX provides for trading across borders, cross-membership and other great benefits. These principles work all the way across the Nordic Market and the Baltic Market.
OMX’s First North is a marketplace aimed at small growth companies. These companies enjoy improved visibility as well as convenient access to Northern Europe’s massive capital pool. Although small, these companies gain the same benefits as larger companies on the OMX Nordic Exchange, but with lighter regulations. Of course with less stringent regulations comes increased risk for investors. OMX is certainly doing much to promote and facilitate exchange trading through Northern Europe.
