Insurance companies' shares: low intereston the BSE

Insurance companies that are listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange have not been able to stir the interest of investors over the last few years, due to weak results, as well as due to the scandals they have been involved in. Asirom shares started to trade again on February 20, after being suspended at the beginning of the year due to the fact that the register contract with the Central Depository expired. There were very few transactions with Asirom shares made in the past month, with the total value being lower than 300,000 euros. The quote of shares also fluctuated slightly in this period, remaining around 0.72 RON/share, despite the fact that company representatives announced it had gone into the black last year. The company’s market capitalisation currently stands at 137 million euros. The shares of Ardaf, the other major insurer on the BSE resumed trading in mid February after an over six-month suspension, as a result of the company being placed under administration. The price of the Ardaf shares rose by some 6% in the past month, with the company’s market value currently standing at about 93 million euros.