APA-Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) The Regional Stock Exchange (BRVM) of the West African Economic and Monetary Union ( WAEMU) recorded in 2020, 246 billion in transaction value against 136 billion FCFA in 2019, an increase of 80% despite the unprecedented fall in global economic growth due to Covid-19.

The information was given Wednesday in Abidjan by Dr. Edoh Kossi Amenounve, the Director General of the BRVM and the Central Depository / Settlement Bank (DC / BR) who presented, by videoconference, the results of the 2020 activities of these two central structures of the WAEMU regional financial market.

"The BRVM in 2020, in addition to the decline in indices recorded, is 246 billion FCFA in transaction value against 136 billion FCFA in 2019, an increase of 80%, 46 listed companies for a market capitalization of 4367 billion FCFA, 80 bond lines for a capitalization of 6,051 billion FCFA, 3 Sukuk sides," Dr. Kossi revealed in a briefing note sent to APA.

He added that 328,096 securities were traded on a daily average, 980.24 million FCFA traded on a daily average, an average PER of 10.03 and a liquidity ratio of 3.60%. Regarding the DC/BR, Dr. Edoh indicated that it recorded a total conservation of 10,961 billion FCFA, an increase of 15% compared to 2019 and Events On Values (ESV) of 1,055 billion FCFA, an increase of 24% compared to 2019.

Regarding the outlook, continued the note, Dr. Edoh announced that the BRVM and the DC/BR will continue their development actions by broadening the listing with the attraction of new stocks and favoring the exit of Private Equity funds, the launch of group bond issues (basket bonds) for SMEs, the launch of studies for the establishment of a derivatives market.

In addition, he listed several other actions including the acceleration of the digitalization of market operations and services and the study for the establishment of a regional Data Center to strengthen the business continuity system. "Even if some fears remain, Dr. Edoh Kossi remains optimistic about the evolution of the financial markets in 2021," the note concluded.