The Irish Stock Exchange has announced strong growth in equity trading volumes in 2003, with the value of shares traded up by 10% on 2002 volumes, to €77.5 billion.
The average daily equity turnover on the Exchange for 2003 was €306m, which represents a 10% increase on the year. The companies listed on the Exchange raised €749m through the issue of shares in 2003.
According to CEO Tom Healy the exchange expects to list three to five new companies this year. In a statement he said: "This was another year of excellent performance. There is a strong possibility that, after three years of companies leaving the Irish market, we will see renewed interest in new issues in 2004".
Shares with the biggest gains in price included Anglo Irish Bank, which rose €3.24 in the last quarter, followed by FBD Holdings which gained €3. Other movers included Icon who moved up €1.75 , Iona up €1.65 and Irish Life & Permanent up €1.53.
The ISEQ Overall Index closed at 4921 at year end, outperforming most global indices, and up 23% from the 2002 close. The ISEQ sub indices also performed well with the ISEQ Financial, General, Small Cap and ITEQ indices gaining 16%,31%, 57% and 74% respectively.
2003 saw continued strong growth in specialist debt securities listings with a 139% increase in the number of programmes listed to 103, and a 53% increase in the number of non-programmes to 707.
Turnover in Government bonds was €74.5 billion for the period and the market capitalisation of Government bonds listed on the Exchange rose 35% to €29.6 billion. In total €6.6 billion was raised in 2003 through the issue of Government bonds.
The number of investment funds and sub-funds listed on the Irish market grew by 12% on the year with the introduction of 674 new entities in 2003.
