Warsaw Stock Exchange - WSE

The Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) is the largest stock exchange in Eastern Europe and is located in Warsaw, Poland.  The WSE has grown from a valuation of a few million Euros in 1991 to over 221 billion in 2008.  The WSE is a joint stock company that is backed by the State Treasury of Poland.  The exchange is broken into 60,000 registered shares, where the Treasury holds 99% of those shares.  The remaining 1% are distributed amongst brokers, bankers, and other financial institutions.

History of Warsaw Stock Exchange

The Warsaw Stock Exchange was first founded in 1817 and the majority of the trading was done with bills and bonds and the trading session only lasted from 1pm to 2pm.  The exchange began to flourish between the period of 1918 to 1939, but due to World War II the exchange was closed until 1989.  After the fall of the communist regime in 1989, the WSE with aid from the French was able to commence trading once again in 1991.

Warsaw Stock Exchange Trading Holidays 2008

New Year's Day:  Tuesday, January 1st

Good Friday:  Friday, March 21st

Easter Monday:  Monday, March 24th

Labor Day:  Thursday, May 1st

Corpus Christi:  Thursday, May 22nd

Assumption:  Friday, August 15th

Independence Day:  Saturday, October 11th

Christmas Eve:  Wednesday, December 24th

Christmas Day:  Thursday, December 25th

St. Stephen's Day:  Friday, December 26th