On the basis of trading in the shares and equity certificates of stock exchange listed companies over the last six months, Oslo Børs has carried out a routine 6-monthly review of the allocation of listed companies to liquidity categories. The new allocations will come into effect from Friday 16 December 2011.
The allocations to liquidity categories provide an indication of how frequently the various shares and equity certificates are traded, which is very useful information for investors when making their investment decisions.
The rebalancing has caused the following changes in the OBX category, which is based on the 25 most liquid shares on Oslo Børs:
- Removed from the OBX category: Archer, Golden Ocean Group, Kværner and Questerre Energy Corp
- Added to the OBX category: Algeta, Golar and Cermaq
The number of companies in the OB Match category is reduced from 124 to 107 and the OB Standard category has been increased from 34 to 45 companies. The OB Equity Certificates category remains unchanged from the last review.
There have been two new listings in the period from 1 June 2011 to and including 30 November 2011. A total of eight companies were delisted from Oslo Børs over this period.
As of 16 December 2011, a total of 198 shares and equity certificates are listed on Oslo Børs.
The number of shares/equity certificates in the various Oslo Børs liquidity categories is as follows (figures for the previous period in brackets):
- OBX 25 (25)
- OB Match 107 (124)
- OB Standard 45 (34)
- OB Equity Certificates 21 (21)
About the liquidity categories:
The OBX category is based on the 25 most liquid shares on Oslo Børs. Shares with a minimum of 10 trades per day on average qualify for inclusion in the OB Match category. The OB Match category also includes companies that have entered into liquidity provider arrangements for their shares where these arrangements are approved by Oslo Børs. As of 13 December 2011, 39 companies have such arrangements, an increase compared with the previous review in June.
Shares with fewer than 10 trades per day on average are allocated to the OB Standard category. Savings banks with issues of listed equity certificates make up a separate category.
