In Panama, the portfolio managed by brokerage firms totaled $35,577 million at the end of the first half of the year, 11% more than was registered in the same period in 2017.
According to the Superintendency of the Securities Market, of the total portfolio, 43% correspond to bonds, another 27% of the assets belong to common shares, and 21% is made up of other securities.
Equities and private debt led emissions in the stock market between January and October this year, which grew by 64% compared to the amounts recorded in 2014.
The advantages of financing in a stock market with the features that Panama's has, has attracted local and foreign companies, who have increased the number of issues, of both equity and debt securities and other instruments.
Ongoing Emissions Report, Daily Report Movements, Movements and Historical Report, there are three new reports from the Superintendency of Securities.
An article on Crhoy.com reports that "... From Monday, the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (SUGEF) will have online information about the movements of the balances of emissions registered in the National Registry of Securities and Intermediaries, namely debt issues (bonds), equities and securities for participation of closed-end funds. "
During the first three months of the year $263 million were traded in the stock market, 29.3% less than the amount traded in the same period last year.
So far this year, of the total trading volume, 85% was public sector emissions and 14.7% was securities issued by the private sector.
The Stock Exchange of Nicaragua "... recorded in March a trade volume of $39.9 million, representing a decrease of 31% compared to transactions in the same month last year."
In Panama a deadline has been bourght forward to December 31, 2015 for companies with bearer shares to turn them into registered shares or hand them in to custody.
Along with the change in the transition period is a new date for the entry into force of Act 47 of 2013, which was originally scheduled for two years after its enactment, but will now take effect ten days after it has been published.
The National Power and Light company is preparing for midyear to issue preference shares for an amount estimated at between $50 and $100 million.
In order to address the financial crisis, improve the equity structure and pay in 2017 $28 million in bond debts, the Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz (CNFL) will be issuing preferred shares for an estimated $50 to $100 million.
Banks authorized by the Superintendency of Securities may perform operations of clearing and settlement of securities in the stock market, which until now has only been done by brokerage houses.
With this modification in the regulations banks may provide more support for trading by its investors, providing the service of clearing and settlement of securities transactions which previously were only handled by brokerage houses.
Grupo Improsa de Costa Rica has repurchased from Grupo Prival 50% of the shares in the stock brokerage firm Improsa Valores, which had been sold to the Panamanian company in December 2013.
The Relevant Fact was published by the Superintendency of Securities of Costa Rica:
Grupo Financiero Improsa S.A. wishes to make known to the general public that it recently acquired 50% of the shares of the subsidiary Improsa Valores Puesto de Bolsa SA.
The Securities Commission of British Columbia in Canada, has issued a resolution barring the two top executives of Petaquilla from trading shares of the company until financial information is presented for the period ending July 2014.
Problems continue for Petaquilla Minerals, which breached a salary payment arrangement that should have been finalized in October and it has now been reported that two of its executives have been banned from buying or selling shares in the company.
Amendments to securities regulations are being prepared in order to allow local stock brokers to buying shares of listed companies in developed markets.
This change in regulations and operational infrastructure will give access to the purchase of shares of international companies listed on stock markets such as New York.
In the first six months of the year $3.250 million were traded, which is an increase of 33% compared to the amount traded in the same period in 2013.
The primary market, where fist time issues of shares and debt securities are recorded, had the most activity, with trading of $414.61 million between January and July 2014.
Laestrella.com.pa reports that "...In the case of the primary market in the month of July 2015, background shares reached $20.72 million, preferred shares $2.59 million, bonds $154.73 million and mortgage bonds $75 million."
The amount of trade between January and June this year represents 53% of total traded in the market during 2013.
In the month of June 2014 alone transactions in the securities market of Panama totaled $469.7 million, with the primary market, where new issues are made, being the most important, with 53% of the total traded.
"... In the first six months of the year the total cumulative volume of the market represents 53% of the proceeds from all of 2013. Whilst January to June $2,671.8 million was accumulated, from January to December 2013 the figure was $5,018.8 million. "
In the first three months of the year $1.350 million worth of securities were traded, up from $1.057 million traded in the same period in 2013.
Increased purchases of securities in the first quarter of 2014 "were made by BG Valores ($230.09 million), Prival Securities ($228.88 million), Banco Nacional de Panama ($195.62 million), MMG Bank Corporation ($142 55 million) and Citivalores ($126.06 million) ...
The connection to the global capital market will allow for diversification of the sources of financing for local businesses and access to a broader investor base.
The agreement signed between the Panama Stock Exchange, Euroclear Bank and Central Latinoamericana de Valores will provide a direct link to international financial markets.
Prensa.com reports that "the link, which is scheduled for April 29, will allow for the negotiation, settlement and custody of securities issued locally. In this way, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Panama's position as a key financial center for Latin America is strengthened. "
The rise in the price of shares in Sacyr seems to indicate an interest on the part of investors because the company reached an agreement with the ACP.
The rise of 4.7% in shares in Sacyr at the close of Wednesday after the announcement of preliminary agreements between the Authority and the construction company working on the Canal appear to reflect market interest in the conflict being resolved quickly and favorably.