The Tribune

THE Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX) saw trading volumes and values increase during the 2012 first quarter, even though the All-Share Index closed down 4.11 per cent for the year-to-date - a greater decline than the 1.74 per cent seen last year.

BISX, in its quarterly trading update, said: "Trading volume for the three month period ending March 31, 2012 was 1,148,910 shares for a value of $5.288 million. By comparison, trading volume for the three-month period ending March 31, 2011, was 642,314 shares for a value of $3.259 million.

"During the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, the average volume per trading day was 17,817 shares for an average value of $81,602.

"March saw the largest average daily trading volume and value during this period with 26,464 shares trading for a value of $146,779.

"By comparison, during the three-month period ended March 31, 2011, the average volume per trading day was 9,945 shares for an average value of $50,577. March saw the largest average daily trading volume and value during the three-month period ending March 31, 2011, with 15,208 shares trading for $74,728."

As for the All-Share Index, BISX added: "For the three-month period ending March 31, 2012 the BISX All-Share Index closed at 1,308.85. This represents a year to date decrease of 56.14 or 4.11 per cent.

"For the three-month period ending March 31, 2011, the BISX All-Share Index closed at 1,473.41. This represented a year to date decrease of 26.10 or 1.74 per cent. The BISX All-Share Index is a market capitalisation weighted index comprised of all primary market listings excluding debt securities.

"As at March 31, 2012 the market was comprised of 25 primary market listings with a market capitalization of $2.723 billion. The primary market securities traded over BISX include 19 common share listings, two preference share listing and four tranches of debt."