The total number of shareholders fell last year to the lowest level since 2009, and the proportion of the market held by private investors remained at a historic low level. At the same time the proportion of the market held by foreign investors increased to the highest level since before the financial crisis, according to the most recent shareholder statistics from VPS.
We have recently published our annual statistics for 2013, and some of the trends seen in the statistics are summarised below:
- Number of shareholders has fallen to the lowest level since 2009
- The number of persons who own shares listed on Oslo Børs fell by 2.3% last year to 348,235
- Two-thirds of shareholders (68.6%) are men
- The reduction in shareholder numbers was equally divided between men and women
- The proportion of the market held by private investors is at a historic low level
- The proportion of the market by value held by private investors increased marginally in 2013 from 3.7% to 3.8%
- The proportion of the market held by foreign investors is now at the highest level since before the financial crisis
- Following a steady increase over recent years, foreign investors now hold 37% of the market by value
- Foreign investors are now the largest shareholder category for shares listed on Oslo Børs. Government and municipalities are the next largest category, holding 34.8% of the market by value
- Older shareholders
- The only age group showing an increase in the number of shareholders last year was the over-80s, while the number of shareholders in the 60-80 age group was unchanged.
- The biggest reduction in shareholder numbers was seen in the 30-39 age group, where the number of people holding shares fell by 2,594 (5.7%).
For further information, see our annual statistics.