However, market capitalisation of domestic stocks grew over the last decade by 17 per cent per year. The turnover growth of the German equity markets is also reflected in a rising importance of investment funds and their assets. In Germany some 6,800 funds manage assets of more than 800 billion euro.
Over the last decade the number of funds almost tripled, while their assets rose by 18 per cent per year. The German capital market has been able to provide the bulk of start-up financing in Europe. More than 200 venture capital companies operate in our country.