NYSE Euronext is celebrating the fifth anniversary of NYSE Alternext, an exchange-regulated market with lighter regulatory requirements that is tailor-made for small and medium-size businesses.

Launched on 17 May 2005, NYSE Alternext is designed to offer SMEs easier access to the stock market.

Listing and trading requirements are simplified and thus satisfy investors' need for transparency and controlled disclosure.

A total of 133 companies are currently listed on NYSE Alternext. Market capitalisation of these 133 listed companies totals EUR4.4bn, with the average standing at EUR34m and the median at EUR24m.

Every day there are close to 1,700 trades on NYSE Alternext, representing a total amount of EUR4.7m, with order size averaging EUR2,800 over five years.

There are currently 13 liquidity providers operating on NYSE Alternext and nearly 60 per cent of listed stocks are traded continuously.

“We are very proud and happy to be celebrating the fifth anniversary of NYSE Alternext, which has proven increasingly effective in serving small and medium-size businesses seeking new resources for continued growth,” says Dominique Cerutti, NYSE Euronext's deputy chief executive. “SMEs play a pivotal role for the European economy and NYSE Euronext, which is especially committed to support for them, will be continuing action to ease their access to capital markets.”