Kenya Equity Watch | 22 July 2015: Equity trading on the Nairobi Stock Exchange continued on the bearish moods at end of today’s trading session

Nairobi, Kenya (Capital Markets in Africa):- Equity trading on the Nairobi Stock Exchange continued on the bearish moods at end of today’s trading session. The market capitalization was recorded at KES 2,180.95 billion after reducing by KES 8.14 million relative to market capitalization of KES 2,189.08 billion recorded at previous trading session.

However, the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE20) index tumbled by 26.62 points or 0.58 percent to close at 4,578.82 points and the Nairobi All Share Index reduced by 0.57 points or 0.37 percent to settle at 155.74 points. The FTSE NSE 15 index and FTSE NSE 25 index added by 0.29 percent to end at 205.71 points and 0.53 percent to trade at 205.16 points respectively.

The volume of shares traded dropped 67.74 percent to close at 13.40mn. Total turnover declined 52.94 percent to close at KES 367.18 million. SAFARICOM was the largest mover of the day with a turnover of KES 64.86 million representing 17.66 percent of the total market turnover. KCB Group Kenya recorded a turnover of KES 45.255 million and East African Breweries Limited registered KES 44.679 million. Also, Kenya Group and Equity Group had KES 43.584 million and KES 30.879 million respectively. In term of type of investor, foreign buys stood at 67.74 percent of total turnover, while foreign sales stood at 39.57 percent of total turnover.

From the market price movers’ viewpoint, KAKUZI went up 5.88 percent to KES 360.00 to emerge as the day’s top gainer. WPP SCAN GROUP Kenya surged by 3.27 percent to close the day at KES 39.50 on 10,200 traded stocks and WILLIAMSON TEA Kenya rose by 2.56 percent to settle at KES 400.00. Likewise, MARSHALLS and Jubilee Holdings Limited Kenya accelerated by 1.56 percent to end at KES 13.00 and 1.08 percent with closing price of KES 562.00 respectively.

On the other hand, East African Portland Cement was the top loser, losing 9.84 percent to close the day at KES 55.00. Also, Uchumi Supermarket Limited closed at KES 6.75 after falling by 8.78 percent on 5,900 traded shares. On the same trend, OLYMPIA and Trans-Century plunged by 8.16 percent and 7.90 percent to end at KES 4.50 and KES 15.15 respectively.

On currency market front, Kenyan Shilling appreciated against all major trading currencies. Kenyan Shilling appreciated against US dollar by 1.03 percent to trade at KES 101.50 and against British pound by 1.06 percent to close at KES 157.89. Likewise, the Kenyan Shilling appreciated against the South African rand to close at KES 8.21, by adding 0.33 percent. However, Kenyan shilling depreciated by 0.07 percent against Euro to trade at KES 111.00.