TORONTO — The number of shares traded on Canadian stock markets decreased last month by the most since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to statistics released by TMX Group Ltd., which operates the Toronto Stock Exchange and smaller platforms, the volume of stocks traded reached 14.4 billion in April, a 15.7 per cent drop from 17 billion in April 2020.
It was the biggest monthly decrease since January 2020, before the novel coronavirus became a problem in Canada and was later declared a global pandemic.
The number of transactions for the month plunged 28 per cent to 25.2 million from 35.2 million in the same month last year.
The value of transactions fell to $210.3 billion, from $216.9 billion.
It market the second straight month of decreases since the pandemic spawned a trading frenzy on North American stock markets.
While the number of transactions fell nearly 34 per cent year over year in March, volumes were down 1.7 per cent and the value of transactions decreased 9.9 per cent.
Volumes and the number of transactions on the Toronto Stock Exchange fell 33.8 per cent in April to 7.7 billion and 20.6 million, respectively.
TMX Group's equity marketplaces include the Toronto Stock Exchange, TSX Venture Exchange, TSX Alpha Exchange and Montreal Exchange.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4, 2021.
The Canadian Press