Astana International Exchange trading volumes triple in 2023

ASTANA. Jan 12 (Interfax) - Total trading turnover on the Astana International Exchange (AIX) more than tripled in 2023 to $582 million, the exchange said in a Friday press release.

Last year, AIX traded in stocks, bonds, exchange traded notes (ETNs) and exchange traded funds (ETF).

In 2023, equity trading on AIX almost doubled to $130 million.

The most traded equity in 2023 was Polymetal International plc, followed by KazMunayGas common shares and Kazatomprom common shares and GDRs, the press release says.

There were 63 new listings on the AIX (56 debt securities and 7 equity securities) in 2023, compared to only 14 securities in 2022.

As much as $2 billion of debt capital was raised in 2023, which was an increase of 259% compared with the previous year ($557 million). The companies with debt instruments listed on the AIX represent a range of industries such as banking, mining, logistics, construction and fintech, the press release says.

Issuer geography also expanded, with companies from the UAE, Luxembourg, the UK and Cyprus joining the official AIX listing in 2023.

The number of investor accounts skyrocketed ninefold since 2021 to 1.5 million, while the number of active investors using the Tabys mobile app rose to 14,900 individuals.

The AIX Qazaq Index (securities of 10 companies doing business in Kazakhstan) rose from 948.36 to 1217.38 points in 2023, which equates to 28.37% growth. Last year, as many as 94 different issuers listed 150 securities on the AIX, the press release said.

AIX was formed in 2017 as part of the Astana International Financial Centre development framework. AIX shareholders are AIFC, the Shanghai stock exchange, the Silk Road Fund, and NASDAQ, which also provides the AIX trading platform. The exchange operates within a regulatory environment based on the principles of English Law, thus providing a reliable investment environment. AIX is developing special segments for mining companies as well as infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road initiative.