The MOU, signed October 12, signals the intention of both exchanges to work together in the future. Under the terms of the MOU, both exchanges agreed to foster a closer relationship and explore opportunities for exchanging information and working on the development and the listing of financial products.

The Luxembourg Stock Exchange is Europe’s premier centre for the listing of international securities and the TSE Group is the holding company of Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc., the leading exchange in the Asia-Pacific region. Both exchanges believe that this agreement will facilitate the development of securities markets in Asia and Europe and will produce a more efficient and active circulation of capital in global markets.

“We are pleased to sign an MOU with the operator of a sophisticated market in Europe with a variety of products.” said Atsushi Saito, President and CEO of the TSE Group. “As we see the fast changes and development in the European market, I believe this MOU will provide an excellent opportunity to materialize a closer relationship with European markets."

Michel Maquil, President and CEO of Luxembourg Stock Exchange, added: “We are pleased to formalise our relationship with the signing of this MOU, which reinforces the already existing ties between our two exchanges. There are a number of areas where mutual cooperation would be beneficial for both exchanges."

About 33,000 international bond issues are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange's two markets (the regulated market and the Euro MTF) representing 43% of total bonds listed on EU markets at end 2007. It also lists some 8,000 shares and units of investment funds in around twenty currencies, offering a wide range of investment opportunities, as well as 220 Global Depositary Receipts of issuers based in the developing world.

The TSE is best known for its equities market, valued at USD3.3 trillion as of the end of Sep 2008. It also boasts a globally recognized market for Japanese securities derivatives such as Japanese Government Bond (JGB) and TOPIX (Tokyo Stock Price Index) futures.