Experience something of the frenzied financial activities of a trading floor when you go on a guided tour of a stock exchange that dates back to the 19th century.
Sitting in São Paulo’s historical centre is the heart of Brazil’s financial community, the São Paulo Stock Exchange, also known as BM&F BOVESPA. Since 1890, traders have been buying and selling assets such as bonds and shares on its trading floor, and today it is one of the largest stock exchanges in the world. Pick up insights into the financial wheeling and dealing that takes place here by going on a guided tour.
See the frenzied activity on the trading floor where investors’ fortunes can be won or lost. Learn about the language of the financial markets and listen to a presentation on how the stock exchange works in theory and in practice. Observe the stock price monitors.
Visit the Memory Centre to study the historical exhibits related to stock trading. The tour also includes a 3-D movie, a simulation of a stock purchase and a short lecture on equity markets. You will also find out how BM&F BOVESPA came to be the second-largest stock exchange in South America.
Guided tours are free and take place from Monday to Friday. They are conducted in English and Portuguese, and are typically held for groups of between 20 and 60 people. If there aren’t that many people in your party, you may be able to join the tour of another group. For all the details, go to the stock exchange’s official website.
With its downtown location in the historical centre, the São Paulo Stock Exchange is close to public transport links. São Bento metro station is less than a 5-minute walk away. Take advantage of your time in this part of the city to visit some of its other impressive sites. These include the Altino Arantes Building, a skyscraper inspired by New York’s iconic Empire State Building. Go up to the viewing platform on the 35th floor for uninterrupted views across São Paulo’s rooftops.
