Тhe Bucharest Stock Exchange had a strong start to the year, posting increases of 12.5% of the BET index tracking the top ten listed companies and of 22% of the BET-FI index monitoring the trend of financial investment companies, including Fondul Proprietatea (FP) shares in the first quarter, Ziarul Financiar reported.

Out of the 76 stocks listed on the Bourse, four registered growth of above 50%, 25 posted increases of between 10% and 50%, and another 14 gained 0.1% to 10%. The rest of 34 companies ended the first quarter down. Among liquid stocks, the biggest gains were offered by SIF Oltenia, with a 33% increase, followed by SIF Muntenia, with 32%.

FP shares, the most liquid on the Bourse, however, lost 5.7% against the closing price of the first trading day. Still, FP stock transactions reached 1.4 bln lei, driving the traded value in the first quarter to 3.15 bln lei, 3.8 times above the fourth quarter, 2010 level, 821 mln lei. In the first quarter of 2010, Bourse transactions had come to 1.75 bln lei.

The capitalization of BSE companies climbed by almost 5 bln euros in the first quarter, to 28.7 bln euros, with 2 bln euros as FP contribution.

Source: Ziarul Financiar