Kenya Market Watch | May 28th 2015: Kenyan equities marginally gained today

Nairobi, Kenya (Capital Markets in Africa):- The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE20) index extended it bearish and shed off 29.85 point to 4,805.89 points but Nairobi All Share Index gain 0.15 points to close at 161.46. However, the FTSE NSE 25 and FTSE NSE 15 indices fell by 0.64 points and 0.58 points to close the day at 217.85 and 217.43 points respectively. The market capitalization gained almost KES 2.2 billion (cumulative lost of over KES 82.8 billion since start of bearish run) to close at KES 2,258.40.

Looking at the market activities, the volume of shares traded dropped by 68.10 percent to close at 24.25 million. Total turnover declined by 53.19 percent to close at KES 724.56 million. SAFARICOM was the largest mover of the day with a turnover of KES 199.28 million representing 27.50 percent of total market turnover. Likewise, EQUITY GROUP and BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO Kenya recorded at turnover of KES 174.520 million (about 24.1 percent of total market turnover) and KES 109.519 million (about 15.1 percent of total market turnover) respectively.  In addition, buys stood at 50.00 percent of total turnover, while sales stood at 29.57 percent of total turnover.

From the market movers’ angle, EAST AFRICAN PORTLAND CEMENT emerged the top gainer, advancing by 3.51 percent to close the day at KES 59.00. It followed by I&M HOLDINGS Kenya and NATIONAL BANK, Kenya surged by 3.45 percent (to close at KES 120.00) and 3.27 percent (with closing price of KES 20.05) respectively. Among the gainers were BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO and KENYA RE added 3.22 percent and 3.03 percent to close the day at KES 738.00 and KES 17.00 in that order. On the losers’ league were CFS STANBIC Kenya, SAMEER, KENYA COMMERCIAL BANK and TRANS CENTURY Kenya subtracted 5.36 percent at KES 106.00, 3.81 percent at KES 5.05, 3.39 percent at KES 57.00 and 2.99 percent at KES 13.00 respectively.

On the final note, Kenyan Shilling appreciated against US Dollar (0.08 percent) and British Pound (0.29 percent) but depreciated against the South African Rand (0.07 percent) and Euro (0.08 percent).Also, Kenya Shilling appreciated against both Ugandan Shilling and Tanzanian Shillings by 0.95 percent and 0.74 percent respectively but depreciated against Rwandan Franc by 0.36 percent.