London - Stock Exchange

The London Stock Exchange was founded in 1773, quickly developed into the leading institution of its kind in the world and is still one of the most important. Following the reform of the Exchange in 1986 all the firms are now concentrated here and the distinction between "broker" (agent) and "jobber" (dealer) has been abolished. In the Great Hall the members of the Exchange would transact business with a huge turnover in accordance with the motto "dictum meum pactum" (my word is my bond). This is enshrined in the coat of arms of the Exchange. Nowadays transactions are made at the computer terminal. After a bomb attack in 1991 the visitor center was closed and for the time being the Exchange is not open to the public.