The first quarter of 2023 was characterised by a market recovery, despite uncertainties that aroused in the banking sector in March. Equity turnover normalised to pre-pandemic levels at EUR 17.1 billion. Since March, AUSTRIACARD HOLDINGS AG has been listed in the top segment prime market, which has grown to 41 stocks. Wolford AG used the market for a capital increase (EUR 17.6 million). In the bond segment, new listings remained at a high level, and green & social bonds have recorded the strongest quarter since the launch of the Vienna ESG segment.
“For equity financing, the changed interest rate situation offers positive perspectives. Going public is becoming increasingly attractive. In addition to the successful newcomer Austriacard Holdings, another listing in the top segment has already been announced for this year in the form of the spin-off of Telekom Austria,” says Christoph Boschan, CEO of Wiener Börse AG, looking ahead to 2023 with confidence. “With the modernisation of the central data feed, the Vienna Stock Exchange has completed an important infrastructure project. As a well-diversified exchange provider, we offer optimal infrastructure and services to all capital market participants.”
After three years of strong one-off effects, equity turnover in Q1 2023 settles back above 2019 levels. From January to March 2023, trading participants generated EUR 17.1 billion in equity trading volume (Q1 2022 EUR 24.5 billion). The strongest trading day was 17 March (EUR 640 million), with EUR 316 million traded on an average trading day. International trading members were responsible for the lion’s share (87%). The most actively traded Austrian stocks were Erste Group Bank AG (EUR 3.33 billion), OMV AG (EUR 2.37 billion), voestalpine AG (EUR 1.94 billion), BAWAG Group AG (EUR 1.38 billion) and Verbund AG (EUR 1.29 billion).
“To make our economy fit for the future, Europe needs innovation, which can only be financed by equity. Economies with developed capital markets grow more strongly and will transform more quickly. The fact that meanwhile every fourth person in Austria owns securities and every fifth is interested in buying them shows that the topic is firmly rooted in the middle of Austrian society,” says Christoph Boschan.
The “Aktienbarometer”, a recent survey commissioned by the Aktienforum, the Federation of Austrian Industries and the Vienna Stock Exchange, confirms a growing number of shareholders in Austria. Broken down to the individual asset classes, 19% invest in investment funds, 13% in shares and 6% in bonds. The survey also highlights considerable potential, as more than one million people are interested in investing in securities.
