Kenya Equity Watch | 8 July 2015: Kenya stocks close lower, market cap KES 19.3 BN …NASI 85bps down

Nairobi, Kenya (Capital Markets in Africa):- Kenya equity markets ended in red. The market capitalization closed at KES 2,243.49 billion, by falling KES 19.27 billion or 0.85 percent relative to market capitalization of KES 2,262.73 billion recorded at previous trading session.

The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE20) index plunged by 52.41 points or 1.09 percent to close at 4,762.87 points and Nairobi All Share Index declined by 1.37 points or 0.85 percent to settle at 160.24. In the same mood, the FTSE NSE 15 index reduced by 0.03 percent to close at 212.93 points but FTSE NSE 25 index added 0.10 percent or 0.21 points to end at 211.97 points respectively.

The volume of shares traded soared by 192.56 percent to close at 60.49 million and total turnover went up 52.60 percent to close at KES 1,280.06 million. SAFARICOM was the largest mover of the day with a turnover of KES 802.17 million representing 62.67 percent of total market turnover. Among the top actively traded, EQUITY GROUP Kenya was the second largest actively traded stocks with a turnover of KES 156.798 million accounted for 12.25 percent of total market turnover. Centum Investment Limited recorded a turnover of KES 109.118 million and East African Breweries Limited registered KES 108.332 million. In term of type of investor, foreign buys stood at 83.10 percent of total turnover, while foreign sales stood at 87.15 percent of total turnover.

Looking at the market price movers, B.O.C Kenya was the highest market gainer adding 6.15 percent to close the day at KES 138.00 on 5,100 stocks. FLAME TREE Kenya surged by 5.62 percent to close the day at KES 8.45 and PAN African Insurance Kenya rose by 3.45 percent to settle at KES 75.00. Similarly, Portland Cement and HOME AFRIKA gained 2.61 percent to end at KES 59.00 and 1.75 percent with closing price of KES 2.90 respectively.

Conversely, Crown Berger Paint Kenya was the top loser, losing 6.02 percent to close the day at KES 62.50. Also, TRANS-CENTURY Kenya end at KES 14.35 after falling by 4.97 percent. On the same trend, MUMIAS Sugar Kenya and British-American Investment Company Kenya plummeted by 4.65 percent and 3.10 percent to end at KES 2.05 and KES 18.75 respectively.

On currency market front, Kenyan Shilling dropped against US dollar by 0.38 percent to trade at KES 100.48 and against Euro fell by 0.10 percent to close at KES 110.60. However, the Kenyan Shilling gained against the British pound to close at KES 155.34, by adding 0.50 percent and appreciated by 0.49 percent against South African rand to trade at KES 8.06.