The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers’ AGEM Index reported a month-on-month decline for the fourth consecutive month in December. The index fell 3.74 points, or 2 percent, compared to November, reaching a composite index of 181.84.
The index is compiled using the month-end stock price (adjusted for dividends and splits) of each company and is weighted based on approximation of market capitalisation. It is based on a 100-point value as of January 2005.
Compared to a year ago, the AGEM Index declined 12.11 points, down by 6.2 percent, said AGEM and research firm Applied Analysis LLC. They jointly compile the register.
The index was down for nine of the past 12 months, according to the report issued on Tuesday.
In December, eight of the 14 global gaming equipment suppliers reported month-to-month gains in stock price, with one reporting a gain of more than 5 percent. But of the six companies reporting a month-to-month decline in stock price, two were down by more than 5 percent.
Positive contributors to December’s AGEM Index included International Game Technology (IGT), which reported a stock price of US$17.25, up 1.3 percent and contributed 0.50 points to the index. Daktronics Inc contributed 0.24 points due to a 4.9-percent gain in stock price to US$12.51.
The biggest stock price gainer last month was Australia-based Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd, which jumped 5.4 percent. Due to exchange rate fluctuations however the supplier contributed only 0.04 points to the overall index.
On the down side, Scientific Games Corp, which in late November completed the US$5.1 billion acquisition of Bally Technologies Inc, reported a stock price of US$12.73 in December, down 15.9 percent, and contributed negative 1.54 points.
Australia-based slot machine maker Aristocrat Leisure Ltd reported a 0.8-percent increase in stock price to AUD6.56 (US$5.3). However, due to a decline in exchange rate, the company contributed negative 1.10 points to the index.
In December, Global Cash Access Holdings Inc closed the US$1.2 billion acquisition of Multimedia Games Holding Co Inc, removing Multimedia Games from the overall index.
The index is now down to 14 gaming suppliers, nine listed in the United States, while two trade on the Australian exchange. One supplier trades on the Athens exchange, one trades on the Milan exchange and another trades on the Taiwan OTC exchange.
