What Can You Buy on Neway? Listed Companies and Securities on the ESX

You can only buy what the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) has listed. The Neway store description mentions “equities, bonds, ETFs” and similar broad wording, which can leave you unsure what you can actually trade today.

This guide gives a dated, plain answer: which companies are listed, which tickers they use, what else trades on the exchange, what hasn’t arrived yet, and how to avoid mistaking “coming soon” for “available.”

The short answer: As of early October 2026, seven companies are listed on the ESX Main Market: six banks and Ethio Telecom. The exchange also trades government fixed-income securities. We found no ETF or REIT listed so far.

If you haven’t installed the app yet, see our Neway download guide.

Companies listed on the ESX Main Market

The exchange began 2026 with two listed companies. Five more joined during the year. Here they are in the order they listed:

1. Wegagen Bank. Listed on January 10, 2025, according to ESX, with about 6.2 million shares. It was the first company on the exchange.
2. Gadaa Bank. Listed in 2025 and was the exchange’s second listing.
3. Awash Bank (ticker AWAB). Listed on April 23, 2026 on the Main Market. ESX’s announcement says 54,066,089 shares were registered, and reports say 37,896,928 of them were available for trading. It listed by introduction.
4. Ethio Telecom (ticker TELE). Listed on May 26, 2026 after a public share offer. It was the first state-owned and the first non-bank company on the exchange.
5. Abay Bank (ticker ABAYB). Listed in June 2026 by introduction.
6. Bank of Abyssinia (ticker BOAX). Listed in July 2026. Reports say its shares rose by as much as 87.5% on the first day.
7. Sidama Bank (ticker SIDAX). Reported at the end of September 2026 as the seventh company and sixth bank to list.

We couldn’t confirm the tickers for Wegagen Bank and Gadaa Bank from the sources we used. Check them on ESX’s listed companies page before searching in the app.

What “listing by introduction” means: The company doesn’t raise new money. Existing shareholders simply get to trade their shares on the exchange through licensed brokers. Ethio Telecom was different, because it sold shares to the public first.

Why Bank of Abyssinia moved so much on day one

On a normal day, equities have a ±20% price limit from the previous close. But ESX’s trading manual allows that limit to be lifted during a security’s first trading session so the market can find a price. A big first-day move is possible, and it isn’t a sign that the normal limits are broken. See our trading guide for the price rules.

Listed, registered and “approved in principle” are not the same

News reports often name banks that are “about to list.” Don’t treat these as tradable. A company moves through stages:

• Approval in principle: ESX agrees the company may list, but nothing trades yet.
• Securities registration: The company registers its shares with the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) and moves them to the Central Securities Depository. It also publishes a prospectus.
• Listing: Trading begins on the exchange under a ticker symbol.

As of the latest reports we found, Dashen Bank, Anbesa Bank and Amhara Bank held approval in principle but weren’t trading, and ESX had approved 11 companies in principle in total. If a company isn’t in the list above, it isn’t tradable yet.

Once a stock is listed, the manual says it carries a status: Active (normal trading), Suspended, Halted, Delisted or Inactive. Only an active stock trades normally.

Fixed income: government bills and bonds

ESX began securities trading in July 2025 with the listing of Government of Ethiopia Treasury Bills. According to ESX, its fixed-income market covers:

• Treasury bills: short-term government debt with a maturity of one year or less.
• Treasury bonds: long-term government debt that pays fixed interest and returns the face value at maturity. ESX says investors can buy and sell listed government securities before maturity through its trading platform.
• Corporate bonds and commercial paper: debt issued by companies.

Fixed income settles faster than shares (T+1 instead of T+2), and the ±20% share price limit doesn’t apply to it. Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance has also said it plans to raise a large amount through treasury bills and bonds on the exchange.

What we couldn’t confirm: whether individual investors can buy every listed bond or T-bill directly in Neway, and what the minimum amounts are. The launch coverage says the app handles equities and fixed income, but the specific instruments you can see depend on what your broker offers. Ask your broker before assuming.

What’s mentioned but not available yet

• ETFs and REITs. ESX’s framework allows exchange-traded funds and real estate investment trusts, and the Neway store description mentions ETFs. But we found none listed. Treat that wording as what the platform can support, not what you can buy today.
• The Growth Market for smaller companies is part of ESX’s design. We didn’t find a company listed on it.
• Unlisted shares on the OTC platform. ESX also runs an over-the-counter market for securities that aren’t on the Main Market. Its rules describe no price caps or circuit breakers, which makes it riskier. We couldn’t confirm whether Neway shows these, so ask your broker.
• Interbank products. Money-market instruments and the interbank forex market that ESX launched in January 2026 are between banks. They are not for individual investors in Neway.

How to check whether you can buy something in Neway

1. Look up the ticker on ESX’s listed companies page first. If it isn’t there, it isn’t listed.
2. Search in the app by company name or ticker. If it doesn’t appear, update the app and try again.
3. Ask your broker if a listed security is missing or if you want to buy a bond or T-bill. Our guide to choosing a broker can help you pick one (add the link once that post is live).
4. Check the status. An active stock trades normally, but a halted or suspended one doesn’t.
5. Check the market session. Orders aren’t accepted at all hours, and market orders aren’t allowed in the pre-open.

Things to understand before you buy

• The market is small and thinly traded. Reports describe trading as real but thin, so you may not always find a buyer or seller at your price. Use limit orders and don’t assume you can sell instantly.
• Concentration risk. Six of the seven listed companies are banks. If you buy several, your investments move together with one sector.
• You are buying a share of a company, not a guaranteed return. Prices can fall as well as rise.
• Read the company’s documents. ESX publishes prospectuses and financial information for listed companies. Read them before deciding.

Frequently asked questions

How many companies are listed on the ESX?
Seven as of early October 2026: Wegagen Bank, Gadaa Bank, Awash Bank, Ethio Telecom, Abay Bank, Bank of Abyssinia and Sidama Bank.

Can I buy Ethio Telecom shares on Neway?
Ethio Telecom trades on the ESX Main Market under the ticker TELE. To buy it, you need a funded account with a licensed broker.

Can I buy Dashen Bank shares?
We found no report that Dashen Bank has begun trading on the ESX. It had completed registration and held approval in principle but wasn’t listed in the reports we found. Check ESX’s page for updates.

Can I buy bonds or treasury bills in Neway?
ESX lists government fixed-income securities, and launch coverage says the app supports fixed income. Which ones you can buy depends on your broker, so ask.

Are there ETFs on Neway?
We found none listed. The store description mentions ETFs, but that doesn’t mean any are available.

Why can’t I find a company in the app?
It may not be listed yet, the app may need an update, or your broker may not offer it. Check ESX’s listing page first.

How often does this list change?
Often. ESX added five companies during 2026 alone, and more are in the pipeline. We update this page when new ones list.

Sources

• ESX: Awash Bank listing announcement
• ESX: Instruments, fixed income market
• ESX Main Market Trading Manual
• Business Day: Sidama Bank becomes seventh listing
• Business Day: Bank of Abyssinia lists
• allAfrica: Abay Bank lists
• Kenyan Wall Street: Ethio Telecom lists

Before you invest

This page lists securities for information only. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell anything and not financial advice. Capital251 is independent and is not affiliated with ESX, any listed company, any broker or the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority. Listings, tickers and availability change quickly, so confirm current details with ESX and your broker before you trade.