ISEQ reports record turnover for first half of 2005

The Irish Stock Exchange has reported continued strong growth in equity trading volumes in the first half of 2005.

With €54.8bn traded on ISE Xetra, it has been a record half year with the highest turnover in the Exchange’s history.

The value of shares traded on the Exchange increased by 46% in the half year to €54.8bn from €37.5bn during the same half year period in 2004.

The average daily equity turnover on the Exchange in the first half of this year rose to €441m from €298m in the first six months of 2004.

Companies traded on the ISE raised a total of €818m in the first half of 2005.

The average number of transactions per day was 3,149 compared to 2,596 in the first half of 2004, a 21% increase.

The Irish equity market outperformed most global markets with a 5.5% increase in the ISEQ Overall Index in the year to date.

The ISEQ Overall closed the half year at 6541.

Leading international indices such as the FTSE 100, Eurostoxx 50, CDAX, NASDAQ and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were outperformed by the ISEQ.