Budapest, 17 July 2026 –The Budapest Stock Exchange has recently set new records, with the entire Hungarian economy, companies and households all benefiting from this excellent performance, stated MNB Governor Mihály Varga, who participated in the ceremonial ringing of the opening bell at the Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE), alongside Minister of Finance András Kármán and Tibor Tóth, CEO of the BSE. Varga emphasised that the Magyar Nemzeti Bank remains committed to maintaining stability, and that the BSE’s performance made a significant contribution in this regard.
As the Governor pointed out, the size of the Hungarian stock market had grown more than four and a half times over the past ten years or so, and the number of companies issuing equities had increased by nearly 40, meaning that the shares of 154 companies were now traded on the Hungarian market. The BUX index continued to reach new all-time highs, currently trading near the 140,000 mark. By all indicators, the Budapest Stock Exchange had positioned itself among the world’s elite and was now the second-most important stock exchange in the region after Warsaw. Varga emphasised that, from the perspective of the Magyar Nemzeti Bank, it was particularly important to further increase the flow of household savings into the stock market. Hungarian households currently held financial wealth totalling more than HUF 124,000 billion, the freely disposable portion of which amounts to approximately HUF 26,000 billion, and thus there was still room for more growth. He also highlighted that the BSE’s results aligned well with the Magyar Nemzeti Bank’s overall set of objectives, the central element of which was stability. In light of this, the past year or so had been very successful: inflation stood at 1.7 percent in June, the EUR/HUF exchange rate was now hovering around HUF 360, down from HUF 410 in April of last year, and foreign exchange reserves had reached a record high of EUR 61 billion. At the opening bell ceremony, Tibor Tóth, CEO of the Budapest Stock Exchange, said “We are convinced that strengthening the Hungarian capital market is in our joint interests, as it contributes to improving the competitiveness of Hungarian companies, stimulating investment and fostering long-term economic growth. The Budapest Stock Exchange intends to remain an open, constructive partner and will continue supporting any initiative that serves these goals.”
Magyar Nemzeti Bank