Kenya Equity Watch | 03 August 2015: Investors lose US$186 million on Kenya equity markets … All Share index 0.92% down

Nairobi, Kenya (Capital Markets in Africa) — Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya witnessed a southward movement at the today’s trading session. The market capitalization fell by 0.91 percent or KES 18.90 billion (almost US$186 million) to end at KES 2,059 billion relative to market capitalization of KES 2,078 billion recorded at previous trading session.

T he Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE20) index plunged by 49.75 points or 1.13 percent to close at 4,354.99 points and the Nairobi All Share Index declined by 1.35 points or 0.92 percent to settle at 147.04 points. The FTSE NSE 15 index and FTSE NSE 25 index plunged by 0.46 percent at196.07 points and plummeted by 0.48 percent to end at 195.54 respectively.

Look at today’s market activities,  the volume of shares traded declined 28.88 percent to close at 28.11 million. Total turnover dropped 41.68 percent to close at KES 721.15 million. KCB Group was the largest mover of the day with a turnover of KES 279.83 million representing 23.63 percent of the total market turnover. Among five top actively traded stocks by turnover were SAFARICOM recorded a turnover of KES 197.504 million and Equity Group registered KES 137.874 million. Also, Kenya Power and East Africa Breweries Limited recorded a turnover of KES 31.889 million and KES 23.187 million respectively. In term of type of investor, foreign buys stood at 92.98 percent of total turnover, while foreign sales stood at 88.37 percent of total turnover.

Today’s price mover was CIC Insurance Group which emerged as the top gainer after adding 6.45 percent to end the day at KES 7.45. Liberty Kenya Holdings climbed by 5.75 percent to close the day at KES 23.00 after investors bought and sold 100 shares only. I&M Holdings Limited advanced by 3.77 percent to settle at KES 110.00. Similarly, Kenol Kobil Limited and Home Afrika Limited accelerated by 2.50 percent to settle at KES 8.20 and 2.04 percent to settle at KES 2.50 respectively.

On the contrary the price slacker was UNGA Group Limited Kenya emerged as the top loser after losing 8.33 percent to end the day at KES 41.25. Likewise, Sameer Africa Limited traded at KES 4.50 by losing 8.16 percent and TPS Eastern Africa tumbled by7.86 percent to trade at KES 32.25. Uchumi Supermarket Limited also declined by 7.59 percent to end at KES 6.70 as well as SASINI Limited somersaulted by 6.14 percent to end at KES 16.05 after investors bought and sold 41,100 shares.

On foreign exchange market front, Kenya Shilling strengthens against majority of the trading currencies today. Kenyan Shilling appreciated by 0.73 percent against US dollar to trade at KES 101.77. Also, Kenyan Shilling gained against British pound by 0.23 percent to end at KES 159.62 and against the Euro to close at KES 111.77, by adding 0.27 percent. Likewise, Kenyan shilling rose by 0.40 percent against South African rand to trade at KES 8.03.