Nicosia: Substantial progress was made in 2025 regarding the privatization of the Cyprus Stock Exchange, Chair of CSE Council Marinos Christodoulides said on Tuesday. He noted that in 2025, CSE continued its steady upward course, recording significant activity and increased investment interest, within fairly changing international conditions of economic challenges, instability but growth opportunities as well.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Christodoulides said that until December 29, the CSE General Price Index recorded a positive change of 27.29%, compared to the General Index price on December 31, 2024. The average daily trading activity amounted to pound 699 thousand, a factor that also reflects the gradual strengthening of market liquidity.
He went on to say that the increase in the total capitalization of the Stock Exchange in recent years was significant, reaching pound 37.5 billion, with the participation of foreign investors in the capitalization of listed companies on the CSE amounting to 38.03% of its total capitalization. He also spoke of significant activity recorded by members operating remotely on the CSE, whose participation in daily trading activity amounted to approximately 10% of it.
The Chair of the Council also said that during 2025, the Board, Management, and Staff of the CSE focused on implementing new projects and initiatives, aiming to expand the Organization's products, markets, and services provided, increase the attractiveness of the CSE, as well as the long-term strengthening of the competitiveness of the Cyprus capital market. He described as key importance the progress in the privatization project expected to proceed within 2026, with the selection of the strategic investor and the conclusion of an agreement with the State, as the current owner of the CSE.
At the same time, he pointed out that special emphasis was placed on improving liquidity and the functionality of the Market. In relation to the energy sector, Christodoulides said that in 2025, the CSE proceeded to undertake the clearing of transactions in the competitive electricity market from its commencement of operation, October 2, 2025, in close cooperation with the competent bodies of the Electricity Market and mainly the Cyprus Transmission System Operator (TSO) and with the CSE's partners in this sector (Athens Stock Exchange, Hellenic Energy Exchange).
The Chairman of the CSE Council pointed out that Cyprus has very valuable and dynamic companies, from a wide range of business activities, which are not yet listed on the CSE. According to Christodoulides, emphasis should be given to the development of the corporate bond market through the Stock Exchange, to finance private sector projects, as well as bonds that could be issued by Semi-State Organizations to enhance their liquidity. He added that it is imperative to further develop the secondary government bond market on the CSE, through the adoption of recommendations by the Stock Exchange for the issuance of domestic government bond issues that are addressed to a wide range of private investors.