The Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) could end the year with approximately 2.5 million transactions on the main equity market—20-30% above the previous annual record—BVB Chairman Radu Hanga said on Thursday.

'The latest figure, as of the end of the first quarter, stands at over 300,000 open accounts. At our current pace, we will likely end the year with 350,000 to 400,000 open stock market accounts. One consequence of this rise in the number of investors is the volume of transactions. We currently have 1.25 million transactions on the main equity market. We will likely finish the year with approximately 2.5 million transactions, whereas the exchange's best year in history by this metric—2024—recorded just under 1.9 million transactions. So, we will likely exceed the exchange's best-ever year by 20-30% in terms of transaction volume,' stated Radu Hanga at the listing of Graffiti Plus on the Bucharest Stock Exchange's AeRO market.

The BVB chairman pointed out that the market's performance is also supported by the increase in liquidity.

'The daily trading value on the main equity market is nearly 120 million lei, representing almost a doubling compared to last year. Last year, the BET index rose by over 50%, and since the beginning of this year, performance has stood at approximately 40%. Total market capitalization is approaching 140 billion euros, of which nearly 90 billion euros represents the capitalization of local companies,' added Radu Hanga.

Graffiti Plus (GRF+), a Romanian communications and brand marketing consultancy, debuted on Thursday on the Bucharest Stock Exchange's (BVB) AeRO market, after raising three million lei from investors in a private placement conducted in January. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Nicoleta Banciulea; EN - writing by: Catalin Cristian Trandafir)