ArmInfo. On February 12, during a special ceremony held at NASDAQ OMX Armenia winners of NASDAQ OMX Armenia Best Member Awards 2015 were announced. VTB Bank (Armenia) won in the nomination "Best Exchange Member in Credit Resources Market". During the Ceremony Karen Sargsyan, trader of "VTB BANK (Armenia)" CJSC was recognized as the "Best trading partner" for 2015 through voting by secret ballot among the traders, Bank's press-service reports.
According to the source VTB Bank (Armenia) was nominated for three nominations: "Best Exchange Member in Foreign Currency Market", Best Exchange Member in Credit Resources Market" and the Grand Prix
VTB Bank (Armenia) CEO Yury Gusev noted that VTB Bank (Armenia) confirms its position as an active and serious player on financial market. "We are very pleased to receive two awards from NASDAQ OMX Armenia. High assessment of our work on stock market is an inspiration to show even more activity on the stock exchange", he concluded.
It should be noted that VTB Bank (Armenia) has been twice recognized as the winner in "Best Exchange Member in Foreign Currency Market>, nomination.
The Annual Ceremony is held for the 6th time in a row and aims to award most active Members of the Exchange and, for already the second time, the Depository. Best Member Award by NASDAQ OMX Armenia ojsc is aimed at encouraging those investment services provide companies, actively involved in trading on various Exchange markets and Depository activities, participating in activities dedicated to developing and improving Armenian capital markets, as well as keeping the code of professional ethics. Award is granted once a year among the Exchange member companies based on the results of each year as of December 31. To note, VTB Bank (Armenia) joined VTB Group in April 2004 and is fully owned by VTB Group, the second biggest bank in Russia. VTB Bank (Armenia) is one of the leaders of Armenia's banking sector. It has 67 branches all over the country (the largest branch network in Armenia).
To recall, 571 transactions on NASDAQ OMX Armenia were made in 2015 totaling 841 mln AMD (versus 3582 transactions of 6.5 bln AMD in 2014). Capitalization of stock market of Armenia in 2015 grew by 42% totaling 103.8 bln AMD (versus 73 bln AMD in 2014 and 61.7 bln AMD in 2013). 140 transactions on shares were made totaling 4.3 bln AMD in 2015 (versus 213 transactions totaling 28.8 bln AMD in 2014). 226 transactions on corporate bonds totaled 453 mln AMD (versus 343 transactions totaling 1.1 bln AMD in 2014). 325 transactions on state bonds totaled 12.1 bln AMD (versus 924 transactions amounted to 33.5 bln AMD in 2014). 2036 forex transactions were made totaling 313 mln USD or 149 bln AMD (versus 4696 transaction of 744 mln USD or 307.9 bln AMD in 2014). There was activity in swap deals in December alone: 5.4 bln AMD that was significantly higher than indictors of previous years.
NASDAQ OMX Armenia is the only stock exchange currently operating in Armenia. On January 26, 2009, "Armenian Stock Exchange" ojsc was officially renamed as "NASDAQ OMX Armenia" ojsc. On June 5, 2009, "NASDAQ OMX Armenia" ojsc became the owner of 100% of the shares of the "Central Depository of Armenia" ojsc. NASDAQ OMX Armenia and Central Depository of Armenia are among the main securities market infrastructure institutions in Armenia. The exchange offers to the market professionals a fully automated electronic trading platform.