Kenya Equity Markets | 19 Aug 2015: Downward trend persisted on the Nairobi Securities Exchange … investors lose US$84 million

Nairobi, Kenya (Capital Markets in Africa) — Downward trend persisted on the Nairobi Securities Exchange and market capitalization tumbled by 0.41 percent or KES 8.64 billion (almost US$83.8 million) to end at KES 2,118 billion relative to market capitalization of KES 2,126 billion recorded at previous trading session.

The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE20) index sagged by 0.39 percent or 17.45 points to close at 4,464.74 points and the Nairobi All Share Index fell by 0.41 points or 0.62 percent to settle at 151.01 points. The FTSE NSE 15 index and FTSE NSE 25 plummeted by 0.73 percent to end at 195.99 points and plunged by 0.73 percent to settle at 195.18 points respectively.

Look at today’s market activities, the volume of shares traded rose by 40.69 percent to close at 22.36mn. Total turnover went up by 14.28 percent to close at KES 594.35 million. KCB Group was the largest mover of the day with a turnover of KES 154.59 million representing 26.01 percent of the total market turnover. Other most actively traded stocks were British-American Tobacco Kenya recorded KES 131.728 million; SAFARICOM had KES 103.089 million, East Africa Breweries Limited registered KES 87.862 million and Kenya Airways with a turnover of KES 44.998 million.

Today’s price mover was Marshalls East Africa Limited which emerged as the top gainer after adding 5.49 percent to end the day at KES 12.50. Eaagards Limited grew by 3.94 percent to close the day at KES 33.00. Unga Group surged by 3.57 percent to settle at KES 43.50. Similarly, Centum Investment and Kenya Airways accelerated by 1.92 percent to end at KES 53.00 and surged by 1.67 percent to settle at KES 6.10 respectively.

On the losers’ chart, Atlas Development & Support Services emerged ended as the top loser after plummeting by 9.25 percent to end the day at KES 7.85. Total Kenya concluded at KES 22.00 by losing  8.33 percent and TPS Serena Kenya sagged by 7.19 percent to trade at KES 32.25. Longhorn Limited also somersaulted by 5.80 percent to close at KES 6.50. National Bank of Kenya went down by 4.75 percent with a closing price of KES 19.05.

On foreign exchange market front, the Kenyan Shilling continued to weaken against major trading currencies. It depreciated by 0.25 percent against US dollar to trade at KES 103.16. Kenyan Shilling decreased against British pound by 0.97 percent to end at KES 161.67 and depreciated against the Euro to close at KES 114.01 by losing 0.21 percent. The Kenya shilling fell against South African rand to trade at KES 7.99 after plunging by 0.34 percent.