Western Union has taken of 451st position in the rating Fortune 500 in 2009, having moved from 473rd line in 2008. Western Union offers one of the easiest ways for families and friends to send money and stay connected almost anywhere in the world. In 1935, Western Union has put into operation first intercity fax communication. You do not need to open a bank account, so you can send or receive money in any of the 170 000 service points of Western Union around the world. In October 1871 the company has implemented the world's first telegraph money order. After a century money transfers have become a major source of income for Western Union. Thanks to cooperation with Western Union the Associated Press at the end of the XIX century took almost monopolistic position in the U.S. market news. The Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. On the market was placed about 765 million of ordinary shares of the company. On the first day trading on the exchange the company's shares rose by 3.3% and the cost was $ 19.96.