Amsterdam Exchanges' Stock Market Experiences Heavy Trading In May

High levels of trading were seen at Amsterdam Exchanges' stock market again in May. As in April, the largest increase was recorded at EURO.NM Amsterdam, the segment for innovative, rapidly-growing companies. Turnover in May was up 442.2% compared with the same month last year, and during the first five months of the new millennium turnover within this segment more than quadrupled compared with the same period in 1999. The number of transactions concluded in the EURO.NM Amsterdam segment also rose sharply, and was more than five and a half times higher than in May 1999.

Trading volumes in shares as a whole also showed a sharp increase. The value of turnover recorded during the first five months of 2000 totalled s 622 billion, 85% higher than the same period last year, while the number of transactions concluded at Amsterdam Exchanges' stock market during this period was up 90%. The Official Market segment saw issues of shares and warrants worth more than s 6 billion in May, almost seven times more than in May 1999.

Premium turnover at Amsterdam Exchanges' options market was up 48% compared with the first five months of 1999. Trading in equity options in particular showed a substantial increase. More than 3.5 million contracts were traded in May, 38% more than in the same period last year. Turnover at Amsterdam Exchanges' agricultural market did not follow this trend and only hog contracts showed a rise, albeit very limited.