The Regional Stock Exchange (Brvm) recorded 246 billion CFA francs in transaction value in 2020, compared to 136 billion francs in 2019, an increase of 80%.

Dr. Edoh Kossi Amenounve, Director General of the Regional Stock Exchange (Brvm) and the Central Depository/Settlement Bank (Dc/Br), gives a satisfactory assessment of the 2020 activities of the two central structures of the WAEMU regional financial market. This, "despite the global health crisis related to Covid-19 and the unprecedented drop in global economic growth caused by the measures taken to contain this pandemic".

In 2020, brvm recorded "246 billion CFA francs in transaction value against 136 billion francs in 2019, an increase of 80%, 46 listed companies with a market capitalization of 4,367 billion CFA francs, 80 bond lines for a capitalization of 6,051 billion CFA francs, 3 sukuk listed, 328 thousand 096 securities traded on a daily average, 980.24 million CFA francs traded on a daily average". In addition, there is "an average Per (Price earning ratio) of 10.03 and a liquidity ratio of 3.60%".

As for the Dc/Br, it posted, according to the press release, "a total conservation of 10 thousand 961 billion CFA francs, an increase of 15% compared to 2019 and Events on values (Esv) of 1,055 billion CFA francs, up 24% compared to 2019". In addition to market activities, 2020 was a year rich in strategic actions for Brvm and Dc/Br, said Dr. Amenounve. These actions were intended, he said, "to promote smEs' access to the market, to develop strategic partnerships, to improve the stock market culture of the populations, to promote the Brvm's ability to provide technical assistance", but also "to strengthen the Brvm's involvement in CSR values and to ensure market promotion'.

The CEO of these financial market structures thus welcomed the market's ability to support States and the private sector in meeting their financing needs in critical situations such as that caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

On the point of prospects, the boss of Brvm and Dc/Br announced that these two structures will continue their development actions by broadening the listing with the attraction of new values and by favoring the exit of private equity funds, the launch of group bond issues (basket bonds) for SMEs, the launch of studies for the establishment of a derivatives market, the acceleration of the digitalization of market operations and services, the study for the establishment of a regional datacenter to strengthen the system business continuity, etc. Although some fears remain, Dr. Edoh Kossi Amenounve remains optimistic about the evolution of the financial markets in 2021.