Kenya Equity Watch | 7 July 2015: Kenya equity markets close higher, market cap KES 2.7 Bill

Nairobi, Kenya (Capital Markets in Africa):- Kenya equity markets closed higher than previous trading session. The market capitalization closed at to close at KES 2,262.73 billion, by adding KES 2.71 billion or 0.12 percent relative to market capitalization of KES 2,260.18 billion recorded at previous trading session.

The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE20) index added 1.17 points or 0.02 percent to close at 4,815.28 points and Nairobi All Share Index climbed by 0.18 points or 0.11 percent to settle at 161.43. In the same mood, the FTSE NSE 25 index and FTSE NSE 15 index surged by 0.25 percent to close at 212.99 points and 0.06 percent to end at 211.76 points respectively.

The volume of shares traded dropped 41.19 percent to close at 20.68 million and total turnover declined 55.01 percent to close at KES 838.85 million. Centum Investment was the largest mover of the day with a turnover of KES 148.66 million representing 43.20 percent of total market turnover. Among the top actively traded, KCB Group Kenya was the second largest mover of the day with a turnover of KES 124.477 million accounted for 25 percent of total market turnover. It is followed by East African Breweries Limited at KES 65.121 million and fourth largest was Cooperative Bank Kenya recorded KES 48.717 million. In term of type of investor, foreign buys stood at 69.50 percent of total turnover, while foreign sales stood at 45.1 percent of total turnover.

Looking at the market price movers and shakers, Trans-century Kenya, was the highest market gainer edging up 8.63 percent to close the day at KES 15.10. This was followed by CIC Insurance Kenya, by gaining 4.61 percent to close the day at KES 7.45 and KCB Bank Kenya surged by 2.75 percent to settle at KES 56.00. Similarly, Standard Chartered Bank and WPP SCANGROUP gained 2.60 percent to end at KES 316.00 and 2.45 percent with closing price of KES 41.75 respectively.

Conversely, B.O.C Kenya emerged the top loser, declining by 6.47 percent to close the day at KES 130.00. Also, FLAME TREE GROUP Kenya fell by 5.33 percent to settle at KES 8.00. Likewise, NATIONAL Bank Kenya and Pan Africa Kenya plummeted by 5.00 percent and 3.33 percent to end at KES 19.00 and KES 72.50 respectively.

On currency market front, Kenyan Shilling dropped against US dollar by 0.13 percent to trade at KES 100.11 and against British Pound fell by 0.41 percent to close at KES 156.12. Also, the Kenyan Shilling depreciated against Rwandan Franc by 0.13 percent to end at KES 7.39. However, the Kenyan Shilling gained against the Euro to close at KES 110.49, by adding 0.10 percent and rose against Tanzanian Shillings by 0.45 percent to close at KES 34.31. It also appreciated by 1.23 percent against Ugandan Shilling to trade at KES 23.10.