In 2018, the volume traded in the Panamanian Stock Exchange totaled $6.100 million, 15% more than the data reported in 2017, mainly because of the behavior of the primary market.
The increase in the volume traded in 2018 represents a recovery in the stock market, since in 2017 the stock market activity of the Panama Stock Exchange (BVP) reported a 28% decrease compared to 2016.
The Panamanian Stock Exchange announced the implementation of its new electronic trading system, which operates with Nasdaq Matching Engine technology.
Directors of the institution informed that one of the main objectives of the transformation to its trading system is to position the Panama Stock Exchange (BVP) as the regional hub of the capital market.
Using a web platform with key information from all of the markets in the region and the Dominican Republic, Central American stock exchanges propose reviving the plan to create a truly integrated regional market.
Once again authorities at stock exchanges in Central American countries and the Dominican Republic have put back on the table the plan to integrate the stock markets in each each country into a single regional one.
Of the total volume traded on the stock market in the first quarter, 55% were in the primary market, 29% in the secondary and the remainder were repurchases.
"..."The most traded instruments in the primary market were corporate bonds-notes and negotiable commercial securities for $338.9 million, followed by Bonds and Treasury Bills for $228.8 million," said the Stock Exchange in a note to which ANPanama had access.In addition, $20.1 million in shares of mutual funds were traded in this market, along with $9.9 million in common stock and $198 thousand in preferred shares."
Issuances registered between January and September 2016 exceed 60% of the total issuances registered throughout 2015, and projections are that the year will close with $7 billion traded in the local market.
The scandal generated from the leaked information about the firm Mossack Fonseca, "Panama Papers", and the questions about the lack of financial transparency that arose afterwards, do not seem to have affected the attractiveness of the stock market for providing finance to companies through the issuance of securities.
Limiting the debt of an issuer and an obligation to rate emissions are two of the requirements proposed by the regulator which have not been well received by the Panamanian securities market.
The proposal by the Superintendency of the Securities Market was subject to public consultation, and now "... these comments must be analyzed and classified, and in the upcoming board meetings they will be evaluated in an objective way," said the head of the institution, Marelissa Quintero.
Companies registered with the Superintendency of Securities and Exchange in Panama will have to comply with standards of good corporate governance.
The Superintendency of Securities (SMV) of Panama announced the topics that it has been working on with the Institute of Corporate Governance Panama (IGCP), to prepare companies selling products on the stock market to comply with the upcoming implementation of the Good Corporate Government, reported Critica.com.pa.
A missed deadline has been missed on an issue of $4 million that was part of the restructuring of bond issues and securities made by the financial company La Generosa.
The restructuring of the financial company managed by businessman Jose Luis Ford failed to materialize and now the holders of bonds and securities issued by financial La Generosa will have to wait for the settlement of guarantees administered in a trust before they can recoup their investment.
An agreement has been announced which will allow Salvadoran and Panamanian investors to buy securities on the stock exchange of the other country without them being registered in both markets.
The stock exchange authorities announced that the agreement implies that each recognizes the other's jurisdiction, allowing a "... Salvadoran investor to order their brokerage house to purchase a share in the Panamanian system directly and deposit the money system in custody in Panama . "
17 issues for $958 million, mostly in corporate bonds, are in line waiting to be authorized by the National Stock Exchange.
Of the total amount expected to be approved for issuance on the stock market, $100 million correspond to an issue of corporate bonds planned to be made in tracts, by the bank Banesco.
Of the $100 million that the bank plans to issue "...
In the primary market the amount of transactions recorded was $3.389 billion, 2% less than in 2013, while in the secondary market negotiations increased by 22%.
From the Annual Summary by the Panama Stock Exchange (BVP):
2014 was a year of significant achievement for the Panama Stock Exchange, annual trading volume increased by 4.7% compared to 2013, with total trading of $5.2 billion.
Between January and September $4.25 billion were traded in the stock market, up from the $3.093 billion traded in the same period in 2013.
The months reporting the largest amounts were March, with $697.5 million and July, with $578.6 million, while the months reporting lower volumes were January at $317.9 million and February at $335.4 million.
The placement of Panamanian securities through the Bloomberg platform will mean greater exposure to global investors and consequently increased demand.
It is expected that the Comptroller General's Office will endorse, no later than December, a contract to operate in the Bloomberg platform. From that moment the Panama Stock Exchange will no longer be used to issue Panamanian Government securities.
An announcement has been made that in the short-term auctions of securities by Panamanian State will no longer be made in the local market and instead will be carried out through the Bloomberg platform.
Given the lack of investment in technology on the part of Panama stock exchange, the government has announced that it will begin making the auctions using the Bloomberg platform. The will allow for more transparent transactions by the State.
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."