US – AGEM Index remains steady for year end
The AGEM Index reported little change in the final month of 2013, rising 0.48 points (up 0.2 per cent) from November 2013 to a composite score of 193.95.
Compared to December 2012, the AGEM Index rose 58.22 points, or 42.9 per cent. Overall, the index performed well in 2013 with month-to-month increases reported in nine of the 12 months. In the latest month, half of the 16 global gaming manufacturers reported month-to-month increases in stock prices, with five up by more than five per cent. Of the eight manufacturers that reported declines, one reported a dramatic decline of 11.4 per cent. The AGEM Index is now more than three times the low reached in February 2009.
The broader stock markets continued to outperform the AGEM Index in December. The Dow Jones Industrial Average reported the greatest month-to-month increase, rising 3.0 per cent to 16,576.66. NASDAQ followed, ending the month at 4,176.59, which represents a 2.9- per cent increase. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 reported a 2.4-percent increase, rising from 1,805.81 to 1,848.36.
Crane Co. (CR) contributed 2.14 points, due to a 7.9-percent increase in stock price to $67.25. With a stock price of $18.16 (up 3.8 per cent), International Game Technology (IGT) contributed 1.20 points. Bally Technologies (BYI) reported a stock price of $78.45 (up 5.2 per cent) and contributed 1.10 points. Konami (KNM) contributed negative 2.59 points, due to an 11.4-per cent decline in stock price to $22.95. With a stock price of €22.16 (down 2.2 percent), GTECH S.p.A. (GTK) contributed negative 0.63 points.
