Santiago Stock Exchange facts for kids
| Santiago Stock Exchange | |
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Quick facts for kids
Bolsa de Comercio de Santiago
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| Santiago Stock Exchange logo.svg | |
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| Type | Stock exchange |
| Location | [[Santiago, Chile]], |
| Founded | November 27, 1893 |
| Owner | MILA |
| Key people | José Antonio Martínez Zuggarramurdi (CEO) Pablo Yrarrázaval Valdés (Chairman) |
| No. of listings | 268 |
| MarketCap | US$ 269 billion (08/2013) |
| Indexes | IPSA |
| Website | bolsadesantiago.com |
The Santiago Stock Exchange (SSE), also known as the Bolsa de Comercio de Santiago, is a very important financial place in Chile. It was started a long time ago, on November 27, 1893.
This exchange is the biggest one in Chile. It's also the third largest stock exchange in Latin America. Only Brazil's BM&F Bovespa and the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores in Mexico are bigger. In 2014, the Santiago Stock Exchange joined a special group called the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative. This group helps stock exchanges work in ways that are good for the planet and people.
Contents
What the Santiago Stock Exchange Does
The Santiago Stock Exchange is where different types of financial items are bought and sold. Think of it like a big marketplace for money and investments.
- Stocks: These are small pieces of ownership in a company. When you buy a stock, you own a tiny part of that company.
- Bonds: These are like loans you give to a company or government. They pay you back with interest.
- Investment Funds: These are collections of stocks and bonds managed by experts.
- Options and Futures: These are agreements to buy or sell something at a set price in the future.
- Gold and Silver Coins: Special coins made by Chile's central bank are also traded.
- US Dollars: People can also trade US dollars on their electronic system called Telepregón.
Most of the trading happens on computer screens. However, some stock trading still happens on a special trading floor, where people meet face-to-face. When you buy stocks, the deal is usually finished in two business days. The exchange is open on weekdays, but closed on weekends and financial holidays.
Main Stock Market Indexes
The Santiago Stock Exchange publishes three main indexes. These indexes are like scores that show how well the stock market is doing overall.
General Stock Price Index (IGPA)
The IGPA stands for Indice General de Precios de Acciones. This index measures how the prices of most stocks on the exchange change. It gives more importance to bigger companies. The IGPA is updated every year and helps people see how different parts of the economy are performing.
Selective Stock Price Index (IPSA)
The IPSA, or Indice de Precios Selectivo de Acciones, is a very important index. It includes the 40 stocks that are traded the most often. This index is checked and updated every three months. It gives a good idea of how the biggest and most active companies in Chile are doing.
Inter-10 Index
The Inter-10 Index looks at the 10 main Chilean stocks that are also traded in other countries. These stocks are chosen from the IPSA list. This index is also updated every three months. It helps people see how Chilean companies that are known around the world are performing. You can also trade futures based on the IPSA and the U.S. dollar.
The Exchange Building
The building where the Santiago Stock Exchange is located has an interesting history. It was built on land that used to belong to a group of nuns called the Augustinian nuns. The nearby Iglesia de las Agustinas (Church of the Augustinian Nuns) shows where they used to be. The stock exchange building was finished in 1917.
See also
In Spanish: Bolsa de Comercio de Santiago para niños
- Bolsa Electrónica de Chile (Santiago Electronic Stock Exchange)
- List of stock exchanges
- List of American stock exchanges
