KEY POINTS:
NZX, operator of the New Zealand Stock Exchange, will be hoping for the warmer weather to spark some renewed interest in share trading, after today releasing details of a sad, slack August.
Total number of trades on the stock exchange last month fell by 20 per cent, to 45,069. The $2.39 billion traded was a 24 per cent fall on the August last year.
The average number of daily trades was down 11 per cent on August last year, at 2,320.
Its benchmark NZX50 has fallen 19 per cent since August last year and 17 per cent so far this year.
Things were even worse on its secondary NZAX exchange during August, with shares valued at a mere $1 million changing hands - a 46 per cent fall from the same month last year.
The number of trades - just 245 - was a 38 per cent drop.
The NZAX index has fallen 26 per cent this year.
NZX, looking for the positive in its numbers, points out that there has been $1.94 billion of debt raised on its debt market in the year to date, a 57 per cent increase on the same period last year. It says the number of trades on the NZDX was up 18 per cent in August, with the value traded up 43 per cent.
Total market capitalisation of all equities listed through the NZX has fallen by 21 per cent from last year, now standing at $58.37 billion.
- HERALD ONLINE
