The Irish Stock Exchange (ISEQ) has reported that equity turnover rose to almost €10.4bn during the first quarter of 2012, according to its latest quarterly update just published.

This represented an increase of 26.2 per cent on the figures recorded during the last quarter of 2011 which were €8.2 bn. This corresponded to a very similar level recorded in the first quarter of 2011. The number of equity trades remained steady at over 630k for both quarters (Q1 2012: 632k and Q4 2012: 638k), with year to date figures showing daily average trades climbing by 12.5 per cent year on year (YTD 2012: 9,883 average trades compared to YTD2011: 8,786 trades).

Another interesting element in the report was that the market capitalisation of ISEQ quoted companies increased by 20.9 per cent during the quarter, reaching €105bn at the end of March 2012 (Q4 2011: €86.9bn).

The ISEQ equity indices all showed strong growth in Q1 as well, with increases across the range averaging more than 10 per cent during the period. The ISEQ overall index rose by 12.2 per cent while the exchanges 20 largest and most liquid equities quoted continuing their strong performance from the last quarter of 2011.

Data showed the ISEQ 20 up 12.6 per cent (Q4 2011: 15.5 per cent), the ISEQ 20 Capped index growing by 15.8 per cent (Q4 2011: 11.7 per cent) and the ISEQ 20 Leveraged index rising by 25.7 per cent (Q4 2011: 31 per cent). In line with these positive developments other strong performers in the quarter included the ESM index, covering the companies quoted on the Enterprise Securities Market, which grew by 17.6 per cent, the Small Cap index up 23.8 per cent and the financial index increasing by 49.2 per cent.

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