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CFA Institute Marks 50th Anniversary of the CFA Program; Rings Closing Bell of New York Stock Exchange on May 29

New York City, United States 23 May 2012

CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence, will celebrate 50 years of the Chartered Financial Analyst program by closing the New York Stock Exchange and hosting ceremonies in 23 other financial centers around the world on Tuesday, May 29. The global market ceremonies represent the greatest number of stock exchanges worldwide opened or closed by one organization on a single day.

The ceremonies set the stage for next weekend, when more than 149,000 registered candidates from 168 countries will take the Level I, II and III CFA exams on June 2 and 3. The events usher in a year of celebration for CFA Institute, which offered the first CFA examination in June 1963. Joining CFA Institute to ring the bell will be the New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA), the largest CFA Institute member society, which is marking its 75thanniversary.

The CFA charter sets the standard for investment practice and is a globally recognized benchmark for ethics in the profession. Following the first exam, 268 investment professionals were awarded the CFA charter. Nearly 50 years later, there are more than 100,000 charterholders in 139 countries and territories – representing the highest professional standards and competencies in the global investment community.

“There is no better way to celebrate the success and international impact of the CFA Program than with a global event of this magnitude,” said John D. Rogers, CFA, president and CEO of CFA Institute. “The CFA Program has grown tremendously since the very first exam, expanding to more than 100,000 charterholders who practice the highest level of professional and ethical standards. The financial industry has faced many challenges since the inception of the program, and I’m proud of the impact CFA Institute continues to have on ethics, education and excellence in the profession.”

“We’re thrilled to celebrate these two milestones in finance alongside CFA Institute. NYSSA has provided a vibrant forum for the New York investment community for 75 years and will continue to do so for many years to come,” said Amy Geffen, PhD, president and CEO of NYSSA.

In addition to closing the New York Stock Exchange, CFA Institute and its member societies will host ceremonies in the following locations on May 29: 

  • Athens Stock Exchange (ATHEX)

  • Amman Stock Exchange (ASE)

  • Amsterdam Stock Exchange (AEX)

  • Bombay Stock Exchange (BOM)

  • Brussels Stock Exchange (BRU)

  • Bucharest Stock Exchange (BUC)

  • Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE)

  • Bulgaria Stock Exchange (BUL)

  • Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE)

  • Dubai Financial Markets (DFM) and NASDAQ Dubai

  • Egyptian Exchange (EGX)

  • Euronext Paris (PAR)

  • Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX)

  • Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX)

  • Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE)

  • London Stock Exchange (LSE)

  • Mexican Stock Exchange (MSX)

  • Moscow Stock Exchange (MICEX)

  • Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE)

  • New Zealand Exchange (NZX)

  • Prague Stock Exchange (PSE)

  • Singapore Exchange (SGX)

  • Stock Exchange of Mauritius (SEM)

  • Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)

The original CFA Program focused on equity security analysts in a U.S. setting and emphasized ethical and professional standards. Today, the program represents a global context, and covers topics such as fixed-income analysis, alternative and derivative investments and portfolio management. CFA Institute traces its roots to the establishment of the Financial Analysts Federation in 1947, following the call for a financial analyst certification by industry giant Benjamin Graham in 1942. FAF leaders created the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts in 1959 to administer the CFA Program, and the two organizations merged in 1990 to form what is now CFA Institute.

CFA Institute recently kicked off the 50thAnniversary celebrations at its Annual Conference, where it issued a call to action to the global investment community with its Integrity List, a collection of tangible steps that investment professionals can take to restore trust in the industry.

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