Kenya Equity Watch | 04 Aug 2015: Kenya equities continues its southward journey, market cap 0.54% down

Nairobi, Kenya (Capital Markets in Africa) —On Tuesday, Kenya equities continued its southward journey. The market capitalization fell by 0.54 percent or KES 11.12 billion (almost US$110 million) to end at KES 2,048 billion relative to market capitalization of KES 2,059 billion recorded at previous trading session.

The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE20) index plunged by 11.83 points or 0.27 percent to close at 4,343.16 points and the Nairobi All Share Index declined by 0.79 points or 0.54 percent to settle at 146.25 points. The FTSE NSE 15 index and FTSE NSE 25 index plunged by 3.33 percent at 189.54 points and plummeted by 3.61 percent to end at 188.48 respectively.

Look at today’s market activities, the volume of shares traded soared by 275.94 percent to close at 105.69 million. Total turnover went up 160.69 percent to close at KES 1,879.99 million. SAFARICOM was the largest mover of the day with a turnover of KES 1,200.38 million representing 63.85 percent of the total market turnover. Among five top actively traded stocks by turnover were Equity Group recorded a turnover of KES 20.861 million and KCB Group registered KES 220.905 million. Also, Diamond Trust and Kenya Power recorded a turnover of KES 60.701 million and KES 59.150 million respectively. In term of type of investor, foreign buys stood at 94.03 percent of total turnover, while foreign sales stood at 93.28 percent of total turnover.

Today’s price mover was UNGA Group Limited which emerged as the top gainer after adding 9.09 percent to end the day at KES 45.00. National Bank climbed by 4.17 percent to close the day at KES 20.00 after investors bought and sold 9,900 shares. Crown Berger Paint advanced by 3.31 percent to settle at KES 62.50. Similarly, Equity Group and CFC STANBIC accelerated by 2.65 percent to settle at KES 38.75 and 2.65 percent to settle at KES 97.00 respectively.

On the contrary the price slacker was KAKUZI Kenya emerged as the top loser after losing 9.58 percent to end the day at KES 321.00. Likewise, Liberty Kenya Holdings traded at KES 21.00 by losing 8.70 percent and Pan Africa Insurance tumbled by 5.63 percent to trade at KES 67.00. KCB Bank also declined by 4.08 percent to end at KES 47.00 as well as I&M Holdings Limited somersaulted by 3.64 percent to end at KES 106.00 after investors bought and sold 5,200 shares.

On foreign exchange market front, Kenya Shilling strengthens against majority of the trading currencies today. Kenyan Shilling appreciated by 0.44 percent against US dollar to trade at KES 101.33. Also, Kenyan Shilling gained against British pound by 1.02 percent to end at KES 157.99 and against the Euro to close at KES 110.93, by adding 0.75 percent. Likewise, Kenyan shilling rose by 0.35 percent against South African rand to trade at KES 8.00.