Trading volumes last month on AIM were up marginally on a year ago, but below the year’s average, according to Allenby Capital’s analysis of the junior market.
Leading the way as normal was ASOS PLC (LON:ASC), the bourse’s largest company, closely followed by Sirius Minerals PLC (LON:SXX) and Fevertree Drinks PLC (LON:FEVR).
Probably a more meaningful assessment of trading activity, according to Allenby, is the most liquid stocks on a relative basis.
Using this benchmark, Ascent Resources (LON:AST) topped the charts with 101% of its share capital changing hands over the month of August.
Harvest Minerals Ltd (LON:HMI), Sound Energy PLC (LON:SOU), Premier African Minerals PLC (LON:PREM) and Independent Oil & Gas (LON:IOG) all made it into the top 10.
AIM stocks traded on average just under 3% of their market capitalisation in August, up from 2.88% a year earlier, but below the 3.22% average for the rest of the year.
That said, demand for growth stocks has been steadily building since it hit its nadir at the end of 2012.
At that point average number of daily bargains was just under 14,000. Last month, the figure was just under 23,000.
“A combination of factors appears to have increased retail appetite for investing in AIM over the past few years,” said Allenby’s Matt Butlin.
“The improvement in the UK and indeed the global economy and the increased appetite amongst retail investors for direct equity investment have been of significance.”