Kenya Equity Markets | 31 Aug 2015: Nairobi Securities Exchange equities witness the bull today … market cap US$354 million higher

Nairobi, Kenya (Capital Markets in Africa) — Nairobi Securities Exchange equity markets started the week on a positive momentum, hence the equity market capitalization ended at KES 2,006 billion after surging KES 36.82 billion (c.US$354 million) or 1.87 percent from the market capitalization of KES 1,969 billion recorded at previous trading session.

The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE20) index surged by 75.92 points or 1.85 percent to close at 4,176.59 points and the Nairobi All Share Index advanced by 2.62 points or 1.87 percent to end at 142.80 points. The FTSE NSE 15 index and FTSE NSE 25 surged by 2.77 percent at 180.05 and gained by 2.75 percent at 179.73 points respectively.

Look at today’s market activities, volume of shares traded shed off 89.58 percent to close at 12.91 million and the total turnover also fell by 71.10 percent to close at KES 511.80 million. KCB Group was the largest mover of the day with a turnover of KES 211.60 million representing 41.34 percent of the total market turnover. Other most actively traded stocks were CFC STANBIC recorded KES 73.755 million; Equity Group had KES 60.020 million, British-American Tobacco Kenya registered KES 35.414 million and SAFARICOM ended with a turnover of KES 32.052 million.

From the market movers and shakers, today’s price mover was British-American Tobacco emerged as the top gainer after advancing by 9.38 percent to end the day at KES 816.00 after investors bought and sold 43,400 shares. Kenya Power surged by 6.42 percent to close the day at KES 15.75. KENGEN soared by 5.33 percent to settle at KES 7.90. Similarly, Equity Group rose by 5.19 percent to end at KES 40.50 and Uchumi Supermarket Limited ended at KES 8.50 by gaining 4.29 percent.

 Conversely, East Africa Cables emerged ended as the top loser after losing by 8.85 percent to end the day at KES 11.85. Olympia concluded at KES 8.16 by crashing by 4.50 percent and East Africa Portland Cement slid by 7.41 percent to trade at KES 50.00. Total Kenya also somersaulted by 6.17 percent to close at KES 19.00 and Home Afrika declined by2.44 percent with a closing price of KES 2.00.

On foreign exchange market front, the Kenyan Shilling weaken by 0.11 percent against US dollar to trade at KES 103.87 and sagged by 0.11 percent to end at KES 160.31 against British pound. Kenyan Shillings also lost 0.03 percent against the Euro to close at KES 116.80 and rose by 1.38 percent against South African rand to trade at KES 7.79.