The Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX) became an active member of the SEE Link network enabling trading on the connected markets. This is the first stock exchange that has actively joined SEE Link following the three founding stock exchanges.
SEE Link is a project started by the Bulgarian, Croatian and Macedonian stock exchanges with the aim of creating regional infrastructure for the trading in securities listed on the three markets. Formalizing this cooperation, the three stock exchanges set up SEE Link as a joint company located in Skopje in May 2014. The funding for the project was provided by EBRD donors through the EBRD Shareholder Special Fund and in parallel, by participating stock exchanges.
SEE Link order routing system became fully operational at the end of the March this year. The two SEE Link indices ‒ SEE LinX and SEE LinX EWI ‒ were launched in the beginning of April, composed of the 10 most actively traded regional companies listed on three participating exchanges. With new market accession, the indices revision is planned in the forthcoming period in order to provide more representative overview of the market.
In addition to BELEX, four more stock exchanges are preparing to connect to SEE Link: Athens, Banja Luka, Ljubljana and Montenegro stock exchanges, with several other regional stock exchanges expressing their interest to join.
With BELEX accession, SEE Link order-routing system now supports trading for total of four markets, with a combined equity market capitalisation of more than US$ 33 billion and almost 500 securities eligible for trading. A total of 27 investment companies (brokerage houses) have been licensed to trade via SEE Link. In addition, seven members of the Belgrade Stock Exchange are currently in the process of obtaining licenses for trading via SEE Link.
The system aims to increase liquidity and improve access for investors and local brokers.