PLUS Markets Group today announced record UK equity activity for August. Year-on-year, bargains increased 210% to 865,275 while trade value rose 190% to £6.50 billion and number of shares went up by 454% to 8.524 billion – new record highs for both value and volumes for the exchange. The August volume number represents over 10 per cent of total UK equity trading on all venues, including BOAT, according to analysis by Thomson Reuters.
Despite August being a traditionally quiet period, flow on PLUS’ quote-driven market was strongly supported by heavy retail flow into UK equities. By market share*, PLUS attracted almost 30% (28.96%) in the FTSE Smallcaps, and 46.84% in FTSE Fledgling by volume. Other notable market shares by value include:
Stock |
Market
Share % in
Value (August
2009) |
Market Share % in Value (July 2009) |
Market Share % in Value (June 2009) |
ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
GROUP |
31.77% |
21.43% |
20.41% |
LLOYDS BANKING GROUP |
19.15% |
18.41% |
12.52% |
LEGAL & GENERAL GROUP
PLC |
10.05% |
8.63% |
7.91% |
STANDARD LIFE |
9.50% |
7.33% |
6.23% |
In terms of total market share the Thomson Reuters market share report for August also indicates a record month for PLUS. Market share for all UK equities by volume (No. of shares), August 2009:
% | |
LSE Group | 54.57 |
Markit Boat | 20.74 |
PLUS Markets | 10.41 |
CHI-X | 6.73 |
Turquoise | 2.63 |
BATS Europe | 1.35 |
All others | 3.57 |
On 21st August, PLUS commenced coverage of all AIM securities on its market. During the final six business days of August, a total of 65,419 bargains in AIM securities took place on PLUS’s platform, representing 2,526,538,237 shares worth £187million.
Business Development Director, Cyril Theret notes: “August, usually quiet, has been a very strong month as UK retail activity picks up and flows into PLUS. These numbers are an excellent promise of future growth, particularly as trading in AIM stocks becomes more established on PLUS. We look forward to building on this strong start as the PLUS Liquidity Scheme previously announced is implemented.”
Month |
Bargains |
Trade value |
Number of shares |
January 2009 |
781,485 |
£3,781.31 m |
4,994.16
m |
February 2009 |
708,943 |
£3,731 m |
5,196.82
m |
March 2009 |
909,511 |
£4,975.94
m |
6,394.37
m |
April 2009 |
1,048,050 |
£6,439.28
m |
7,736.81
m |
May 2009 |
929,510 |
£6,139.46
m |
6,194.92
m |
June 2009 |
685,759 |
£4,869.79
m |
5,484.06
m |
July 2009 |
619,738 |
£4,696.51
m |
4,850.01
m |
August 2009 |
865,275 |
£
6,500.76
m |
8,524.31
m |
Background
PLUS Markets is an independent stock exchange in London, with “Recognised Investment Exchange” status, and classed as a Market Operator under MiFID. Its offering includes the full range of stock exchange activities, namely: trading execution, the provision of proprietary market data and listing/quotation destinations. PLUS currently trades over 9,000 securities on its platform including London-listed shares (including the FTSE 100), European liquid shares, and unlisted shares quoted on the AIM and PLUS markets.