Established in 1991 with funding provided by the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) in Zurich through a partnership with the University of Reading, the centre is housed in a purpose-built modernist building, and was formally opened in March 1998 by Sir Brian Unwin, then President of the European Investment Bank.

The centre's facilities include three dealing rooms where students learn how markets function and apply theory through simulations.

The centre also provides two lecture theatres, several seminar rooms, information seating area and café bar.

Research and project work are supported by economic and financial data from Datastream, ICMA and other sources and analytical, mathematical and statistical software.

The dealing rooms are also used for computing work throughout the programmes, including Excel spreadsheet modelling, Monte Carlo simulation, financial econometrics and sessions on market microstructure.