Myanmar's stock exchange grappling with lack of investors
A lack of blue-chip companies and a dearth of investors is combining to cripple the Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX), which opened amid great fanfare a year ago, but is now on a downward trajectory. YSX, which aimed for 10 listed issues, is home to four, and closed last Friday at 593.77. Many of the 30,000 domestic trading accounts are single private investors with little faith in banks and no capital to spend. Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance Maung Maung Win compared YSX with counterparts in Indonesia and Vietnam and insists it is not underperforming.

YANGON -- Housed in a stately colonial building at the heart of Myanmar's financial district sits the Yangon Stock Exchange, which amid great expectations opened its doors as the country's first bourse a year ago this month.

Fast forward to today, and the exchange, known as YSX, is struggling. With only four listed issues, trading volume is on a downward trajectory, and stock prices slumping.