Uptrend in equity trading for more than two years

UniCredit Bank Austria AG
Mon, 04/01/2016

The Vienna Stock Exchange reported a year of solid developments. Trading volumes surged 24.3% and the leading index ATX gained 11.2% in 2015.          
                                                                                   
Among other things, this upturn was supported by the abatement of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the low oil price and the depreciation of the euro. Highlights of the year included innovations in bond trading. Market capitalisation on the Vienna Stock Exchange reached EUR 86.28 billion on 15 December 2015; this was a gain of 7.86% over the year-end figure of 2014.

Trading volumes on the Vienna Stock Exchange reached a sustainable level this year. Despite the comparatively small size of the Austrian market, a steady rise in liquidity could be registered. The ATX ranks as one of the leading indices in Europe. Equity trading activity remained at a high level throughout the year with a value of EUR 56.69 billion for the total equity trading volume on 15 December (versus 1 Jan. 2014 to 15 Dec. 2014: EUR 45.62 billion).

Compared to 2014, issuers were more cautious this year with regards to capital increases. There were six such events initiated by four companies that raised a volume of around EUR 320 million. On the other hand, corporate financing through bonds continued to develop well. There were 30 new corporate bond issues this year with a total outstanding volume of around EUR 5.2 billion (2014: 7.2 billion, 39 corporate bonds). This year, the Vienna Stock Exchange also took further measures to stimulate the secondary market and make it more transparent by introducing continuous trading for selected bonds.

The Management Board of the Vienna Stock Exchange expects interest from investors and trading members to remain robust in 2016 due to the low interest rate policy, the weak euro and the continued low energy costs.

Contact:
Tina Fischer
Senior Relationship Manager
GSS Austria
tina.fischer@unicreditgroup.at