Alternext, the Euronext market dedicated to small and mid-cap stocks, has just entered a new stage in its development with cumulated trade volume reaching over EUR 1 billion.
At 9 January 2007, transactions on Alternext since the market’s creation stood at EUR 1.27 billion, with the monthly average rising steadily to around EUR 85 million in 2006—four times the 2005 figure.
Recent regulatory changes in favour of companies listed on Alternext, actively supported by Euronext, should give market liquidity an additional boost. Following the publication on 30 December 2006 of a decree modifying article R.214-2 of the Code Monétaire et Financier, stocks traded on Alternext can now represent up to 100% of total assets of investment funds (UCITS), compared with a maximum 10% previously.
Operating in Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris, Alternext currently counts 75 listings representing total market capitalisation of EUR 3.4 billion. The Alternext All-Shares index has risen 34% since year-end 2005.
