National Stock Exchange Of Lithuania: The Share Turnover Of The Month Topped Ltl 100 Million Again

The NSEL trading in March was as active as during the first two months of this year. Last month investors assessed the results of 2003 and made forecasts regarding performance of companies in the first quarter. More so, awaiting the decisions of the annual meetings of shareholders, market players adjusted their investments into shares. Despite the correction of some share prices at the end of the month, the prices of 24 shares advanced and those of 13 shares decreased. The prices of Invalda AB, Stumbras AB, Snaige AB and of some other companies' shares hit their lifetime highs. During the month, the NSEL indices rose by 5-10%, and from the beginning of the year, the Official list index LITIN grew by 38%, LITIN-G gained 23%, and LITIN-10 improved by 17%. The latter reached a new record of 2797.5 points on March 26. The capitalisation of listed shares moved up by 6% to LTL 12 bn (Eur 3.48 bn), and the total market capitalisation grew by 3.5% to LTL 20.4 bn (LTL 5.91 bn).

The share turnover of the month topped LTL 100 m (Eur 28.96 m), reaching LTL 132 m (Eur 38.23 m). The sale of the blocks of shares of Utenos Trikotazas AB and Zemaitijos Pienas AB improved the turnover of negotiated deals to LTL 78 m (Eur 22.59 m). Central market share trading was slightly lower than that of the record month of February and reached LTL 54 m (Eur 15.64 m). The most active central market players were Vilniaus Vingis AB, Lietuvos Telekomas AB, Snaige AB and Rokiskio Suris AB. The turnover of debt securities was lower than that in January and February and stood at LTL 144 m (41.71 m). Thus, the total securities trading in March surpassed the turnover of any month of last year reaching LTL 277 m (LTL 80.22 m).

During the first quarter of 2004, the number of transaction per trading session doubled comparing to last year, share trading amounted to LTL 422 million (Eur 122.22 m), and that of Government debt securities reached LTL 526 m (Eur 152.34 m) bringing the total securities turnover to LTL 948 m (Eur 274.56 m). The mentioned share turnovers have already comprised 71%, 38% and 48% of the corresponding total turnovers for 2003.