Boerse Stuttgart continues its expansion strategy in Scandinavia. After its market entry in Sweden three years ago and in Finland in October of last year Boerse Stuttgart has now set its sights on Norway. The derivatives segment of the Nordic Growth Market (NGM) belonging to Boerse Stuttgart immediately makes it possible for Norwegian investors to trade in securitised derivatives.
Initially, Commerzbank and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) products will be offered; trading will also take place through the Nordnet and Netfonds banks. "Further issuers and trading partners will follow very soon. The success story in Sweden and Finland endorses our international expansion strategy," said Christoph Lammersdorf, CEO of Boerse Stuttgart.
In March 2011 the derivatives segment of the Nordic Growth Markt (NGM) reached a turnover of almost 3.4 billion Swedish crowns for the first time (equivalent to around EUR 370 million), notably surpassing the previous trading record of recent months. In February trading volumes on the Scandinavian derivatives exchange amounted to more than 2.5 billion Swedish crowns. Trading volumes have grown almost fivefold year-on-year at a rate of 480 percent. In the first quarter NGM's derivatives segment registered a total trading volume of more than 8.5 billion Swedish crowns. Boerse Stuttgart's Swedish subsidiary has a market share of 60 percent in warrants and certificates trading. After the expansion to Finland in October 2010, a market share of 56 percent has already been reached in warrants and certificates trading in this market.
"The countries of Northern Europe have highly developed financial markets with a well defined investment culture among private investors. This is why the Scandinavian market plays a key role in our international business strategy. Our core task is to inform and enlighten Scandinavian investors about the products that are new for them, thus increasing their willingness to invest in certificates and warrants," said Christoph Lammersdorf. Boerse Stuttgart's expansion into other countries has not yet been completed. Further steps are in the pipeline.
Background
Sweden’s second biggest stock exchange, Nordic Growth Market NGM AB (NGM), was taken over by Boerse Stuttgart Holding GmbH in November 2008. Apart from OMX, NGM is the only stock exchange approved by the country’s financial supervisory authority and plays a key role in Boerse Stuttgart’s plans to expand into the North European market. The focus is on promoting transparency at all levels of trading, supplying information and knowledge to retail investors and the ongoing development of the trading platform and the market model.
NGM’s services include the listing and trading of equities on its NGB Equity Market and trading in securitised derivatives on the Nordic Derivatives Exchange (NDX). NGM also operates Nordic MTF, a multilateral exchange for trading in stocks of young growth companies.
