Movers & Shakers: April 12, 2012

Botswana: DCI +0.12%, Vols USD 597k

An active day on the DCI today, with USD 597k worth exchanging hands today. The index ended the day 0.12% higher at 7065.05pts. Letshego had the lion's share with 2,750,577 shares trading at 150t, accounting for 96% of the day's turnover. Letlole was the only mover today, ending 5t higher at 115t. Barclays traded level at 710. Choppies was unchanged at 145t.

Egypt: EGX 30 +1.79%, Vols USD 70m

The market managed to end the day higher, leaving the EGX30 to end the day up 1.79% to close at 4735.15 points. Volumes has improved compared to recent market volumes, market traded a total turnover of USD 70m. Volatility continued throughout the day today in Egyptian blue-chips as institutional investors (International) continue to book profits, yet local retail increased their exposures in the market to be net buyers today along local institutional investors who also were notable buyers in the market . Telecoms sector continues to grab investors attentions, this was mainly attributed to the expected catalyst in EMOB that FT will submit to EFSA an application to launch an unconditional and irrevocable mandatory public tender offer at EGP202.5. Names such as OTMT, EMOB, ETEL and ORTE lead the market in terms of volumes, each ending the day up 6.72%, 1.71%, 1.32% and 2.98% respectively.

Investor mix:
•  Foreigners were net Sellers by 95.19 mn EGP and were 31.60% of the market.
•  Egyptians were net Buyers by 77.29 mn EGP and were 61.65% of the market.
•  Arabs were net Buyers by 17.90 mn EGP and were 6.75% of the market.
•  Institutions were net Sellers by 22.20 mn EGP and were 44.64% of the market.
•  Retail were net Buyers by 22.20 mn EGP and were 55.35% of the market.

Kenya: NSE 20 +0.74%, Vols USD 4.50m

Good pickup in activity in Nairobi today with foreigners returning to the scene, value traded amounted to $4.50m. Banking stocks KNCB and EQBNK returned to favor with foreigners today thanks to a number of crosses in both names, 4.81m shares and 5.15m shares changed hands in the names respectively. KPLL was rather active today with 3.4m shares trading in the name thanks to a cross early on of 1m shares at 15 with the buyer being local. The Shilling strengthened the most this month to 83.05 as the Central Bank removed money from the market for the fourth straight day. Total foreign purchases accounted for $2.15m of total purchases while they accounted for $600k of total sales. The market closed the day higher with the NSE 20 Index gaining 0.74% to close at 3,454.34.

Mauritius: Semdex +0.03%, Vols USD 1.3m

The Semdex inched up 0.03% while the Sem-7 ended 0.18% higher. Turnover on the official market stood at Rs32.3m which was geared towards MCB. The stock closed 0.60% higher at Rs167, with a total of 120,622 shares trading in the name. SBM on the other hand, remained level at Rs82. ENL witnessed several crosses today, closing 0.5% lower at Rs36.80. On the Dem side, the index fell by 0.4% to reach 147.10pts on turnover of Rs6.98m driven by LMLC and Union Flacq which saw crosses of 22k and 71.3k shares at Rs150 and Rs15.50 respectively.

Nigeria: ASI -0.35%, Vols USD 13.74

Another delayed start in Lagos after more technical issues delayed the start of the pre-open session. Activity continues to be somewhat muted although a few crosses in selected names once again dominated volumes. The banking sector was the biggest drag on the index with the BNK10 down 1.10% for the day, led down by First Bank (-3.54%, N9.26). Nigerian Breweries was the most active name on the day with crosses going through at 98, 4.8mill shares traded and the name closed unch at N98. Guinness also saw some block crossing action closing -6bps at N230. Investor appetite for consumer names continues to be very much in evidence. Some positive news came out for the West African country after the Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Lawal Ngama announced that Nigeria’s GDP growth rate of 7.68% in Q4 2011 makes it the 3 rd fastest growing country in the world.

South Africa: Top 40 +0.66%, Vols USD 1.66bn

The JSE ended the day higher with the Top 40 Index gaining 0.66% to close at 29,864 while value traded amounted to USD 1.66bn. Resources were the day's biggest gainers with the Index gaining 0.93% followed by Industrials which gained 0.03% while Financials fell 0.25%. The Rand was trading at 7.88 and 10.41 to the USD and EUR respectively by the time local markets closed.

Zambia: LuSE -0.50%, Vols USD 28k

Very quiet day in Zambia today with value traded amounting to USD 28k. The names that traded included CECZ, PUMA, SCBL and ZSUG. PUMA was the biggest contributor towards turnover with value traded in the name amounting to USD 8k. SCBL was the second biggest contributor towards turnover with value traded in the name amounting to USD 7k.

Zimbabwe: Industrials -0.80%, Mining Unch, Vols USD 312k

The Industrial index reversed yesterday’s gains, closing the day 0.80% lower at 134.35pts. Market turnover declined to $312,957 from yesterday’s $1.1m from the 32 active stocks. Natfoods led the losers ending the day -16.67% lower at 100c. Financial services giant CBZ gave up -14.29% to 6c on selling pressure as a sizeable block of 936,933 shares exchanged hands after media reports that the group has attached property belonging to CAPS Holdings in a bid to recover $4.4m in outstanding loans. Other notable losses were in Econet and Seedco which lost -5c apiece to 375c and 100c respectively while trio of Delta, Fidelity and Meikles pared -0.01c each to 68c, 16c and 13.77c respectively. Among the gainers FBC added 3.17% to 6.50c albeit on weak demand, Barclays was 2.56% up at 4c but remains with a scrip overhang at the same levels while Edgars recovered 6.67% to 8c on a sizable block of 1m shares. The mining index was flat 88.80c after Hwange was unchanged at 26.50c with no trades in Bindura, Falgold and Rio.