YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/. Armenian investment companies’ assets grew 12% over the third quarter, compared with the previous quarter, reaching AMD 17 billion by late September, the Central Bank of Armenia says in its quarterly review.

Their total capital amounted to AMD 2.9 billion in late September after growing by 5% over the quarter.

Securities sale/purchase transactions worth AMD 81.3 billion were effected over the period between July and September (52% quarter-on-quarter growth).

Corporate bond deals totaled AMD 1 billion in late September after contracting by 23% over the third quarter, while stock deals grew by 41% to AMD 3 billion, and government bond transaction grew 55% to AMD 77.3 billion.

According to the review, government bond deals accounted for 95.1% of the securities transactions effected in the third quarter.

Stock deals made up 3.7% and corporate bond deals 1.3% of the total amount of transactions effected for the mentioned three months.

Some 21 banks providing investment services and eight investment companies operate in Armenia now. -0-