Ghana Market Watch | May 19th 2015: Ghana equity market closes on the south pole

Accra, Ghana (Capital Markets in Africa):- Ghana Stock exchange close on the south pole today, with the benchmark composite index lost 3.85 points to  close trading at 2316.17, representing a year- to- date return of  2.44%. On the same mood, the financial index also shed 5.5 points to 2,357.58 with a year-to-date  return of 5.08%. Likewise, the market capitalization close at GHS 64,323.73 million (a lost of 0.03% from previous market cap).

However,  the stock market witnessed improved activity today with volumes and turnover exceeding those recorded in yesterday’s session. At the close of trading, a total of 267,479 shares valued at GHS 303,777 were exchanged in sixteen equities via 144 trade deals.  Ecobank Trans and Benso Oil Palm were the most actively traded securities by volume (accounted for 52 percent of total volume) and turnover (accounted for 35 percent of the total value) respectively.

Looking at the price movers’ list, there were three gainers and six decliners. Among the gainers were Aluworks Ltd and Ecobank Ghana Ltd inched up GHS 0.01 each to close at GHS 0.05 and GHS 8.11 respectively. Fan Milk Ltd also added GHS 0.01 to close at GHS 5.33 from GHS 5.32.

On the losers’ side, three banking stocks shaved GHS 0.01 each; UT Bank dropped to GHS 0.17 from GHS 0.18. HFC Bank and Standard Charterd Bank also closed trading at GHS1.69 and GHS 20.26 from GHS1.70 and GHS20.27 respectively. Furthermore, Ghana Commercial Bank lost GHS 0.06 to close at GHS5.24. While Ghana Oil and Benso Oil Palm lost GHS 0.01 each to end the closing price at GHS1.19 and GHS 5.00.

On the foreign exchange market, the Ghanaian cedi was bullish appreciating against all major trading currencies today. It gained 0.37 percent, 0.95 percent and 0.87 percent against the US dollar, British pound and Euro to close at average rates of GHS 3.86, GHS 6.06 and GHS 4.39 respectively.