The Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) (Romanian: Bursa de Valori București) is the stock exchange of Romania located in Bucharest. In 2019, the capitalization of BVB increased 23.4% compared to the previous year, to the value of EUR 37.8 billion. there were 83 companies listed on the BVB. The capitalization of the Romanian capital market in relation to GDP was of 17.9% at the end of 2019. That same year, the stock exchange indices reached their highest level in the past 10 years. The BET index went up 35% and the BET-TR rose more rapidly, by 47%, against the dividends distributed by the companies. , the most liquid company within the BVB’s main (Regular) market was Banca Transilvania (TLV), which owns approximately 30% of the total traded value. The following most liquid companies were Fondul Proprietatea (FP), BRD - Groupe Société Générale (BRD), Romgaz (SNG) and OMV Petrom (SNP). In September 2020, the Bucharest Stock Exchange was promoted from the category of Frontier Market to the category of Secondary Emerging Market by the FTSE Russell rating agency. History Beginnings of the history of the Bucharest Stock Exchange can be traced back to 1839, when the commodities-trade exchanges were established in Bucharest. It was nevertheless only on December 1, 1882 that the BVB was officially inaugurated. One week later, the first exchange rates begun being published in the Official Gazette. Throughout its early existence, the activities of the Bucharest Stock Exchange were affected by the socio-political events of the time, such as the Romanian Uprising of 1907 or the Balkan Wars that took place between 1912 and 1913. The stock exchange was moreover closed during the First World War. When BVB re-opened following the end of the war, it went through a period of 7 years of significant growth, followed by a period of 7 years of accelerated loss. In 1948 the activity of the Market for Effects, Actions and Exchange was stopped, with the establishment of the Communist regime in Romania and the beginning of the nationalisation process. At that time, shares issued by 93 companies and 77 fixed-income instruments (bond type) were listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. The Bucharest Stock Exchange reopened again in 1995, after almost 50 years of being shut down by the Communist regime. The first trading session was carried out on November 20, 1995. On that date, 905 shares issued by 6 listed companies were