NZX share trading dips in February as debt transactions rise

Monday 5th March 2012

Trading in shares on the NZX fell last month, by value, while transactions involving debt securities rose, according to the exchange’s monthly metrics.

The total value of trading in equities fell 3.5 percent from the same month a year earlier to $2.2 billion, or an average of $109 million a day. The volume of trades jumped 57 percent to 77,890.

Trading in debt securities rose 13 percent to $90 million, with the volume climbing 16 percent to 3,337.

The NZX 50 Index edged up about 0.8 percent last month in the midst of an earnings season that yielded mixed results, including disappointments from companies such as Fletcher Building, the biggest on the exchange.

There was $26 million of equity capital raised last month and $10 million of debt. Total equity securities listed fell 0.6 percent to 171 and debt securities fell 6.9 percent to 108. There were 10 securities listed as ‘other’, down 29 percent from a year earlier.

The exchange’s equity market capitalisation fell 0.3 percent to $57.1 billion, or the equivalent of 28 percent of gross domestic product. The value of debt securities fell 0.7 percent from a year earlier to $16 billion, or 7.8 percent of GDP.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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