Vienna Stock Exchange AG (Wiener Börse AG) has been officially designated as a registered benchmark administrator becoming the first European Stock Exchange to achieve this coveted status.
A benchmark administrator is a term that refers to a natural person or legal entity that has been granted control over an index. Such an entity can make decisions on the composition, quality and creation of the index.
Today’s decision is part of efforts by the EU to decentralize the administration of tradable indices by licensing benchmark administrators who meet the strict criteria set by ESMA. EU benchmark administrators shall be the only entities managing European indices as from 1 January 2020.
The Vienna Stock Exchange has over 130 tradable indices and today’s designation is evidence of the high quality and transparency implemented by the company in managing these indices.
The CEO of Vienna Stock Exchange Christoph Boschan said that:
The index business remains a strategic thrust of the Vienna Stock Exchange. The rapid listing confirms our reputation as a quality leader in index solutions for Austria, Central and Eastern Europe and Russia.