Kenya Equity Watch | 12 Aug 2015: Bear returns to the Nairobi Securities Exchange, NSE20 index 0.46% down …

Nairobi, Kenya (Capital Markets in Africa) — The bear returned to the Nairobi Securities Exchange, hence the market capitalization went down by 0.20 percent or KES 4.23 billion (almost US$42 million) to end at KES 2,165 billion relative to market capitalization of KES 2,168 billion recorded at previous trading session.

In the same mood, the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE20) index sagged by 20.57 points or 0.46 percent to close at 4,499.06 points and the Nairobi All Share Index declined by 0.30 points or 0.19 percent to settle at 154.61 points. The FTSE NSE 15 index and FTSE NSE 25 reminded flat to close  at 201.27 points and 200.45 respectively.

Look at today’s market activities, the volume of shares traded lost 55.58 percent to close at 12.84 million and total turnover dipped by 74.81 percent to close at KES 246.54 million. SAFARICOM was the largest mover of the day with a turnover of KES 85.64 million representing 34.74 percent of the total market turnover.  Among the top actively traded stocks, KCB Group recorded a turnover of KES 57.008 million and East African Breweries Limited registered KES 27.071 million. UMEME Limited and Equity Group recorded a turnover of KES 12.302 million and KES 7.965 million respectively. In term of type of investor, foreign buys stood at 51.66 percent of total turnover, while foreign sales stood at 55.76 percent of total turnover.

Today’s price mover was Express Limited which emerged as the top gainer after adding 9.78 percent to end the day at KES 5.05. Total Kenya Limited climbed by 5.81 percent to close the day at KES 22.75. Flame Tree Group Holdings surged by 5.00 percent to settle at KES 7.35.  Similarly, Athi River Mining and Car & General Kenya Limited rose by 4.88 percent to end at KES 64.50 and surged by 3.70 percent to settle at KES 42.00 respectively.

On the losers’ chart, Marshalls East Africa Limited ended as the top laggard after plunging by 10.00 percent to end the day at KES 10.80. Other losers were CFC Stanbic Bank traded at KES 93.50 after falling by 5.81 percent and Mumias Sugar Company sagged by 5.00 percent to trade at KES 1.90. KenolKobil Limited also plunged by 4.44 percent to end at KES 8.60 as well as Olympia Capital Holdings tumbled by4.12 percent with a closing price of KES 4.65.

On foreign exchange market front, Kenyan Shilling appreciated by 0.21 percent against US dollar to trade at KES 100.92. Also, Kenyan Shilling gained against British pound by 0.19 percent to end at KES 157.16 but depreciated against the Euro to close at KES 111.75, by losing 0.74 percent. The Kenya shilling also appreciated against South African rand to trade at KES 7.86 after adding 1.02 percent.