Movers & Shakers: April 25, 2012

Botswana: DCI +0.06%, Vols USD 327k

The market closed the day slightly higher with the DCI gaining 0.06% to close at 7,125.20 while value traded amounted to USD 327k thanks to a cross of 1m Choppies at 150t. Choppies was the only name that traded higher (150t, +2t) while there were no stocks that closed lower on the day.

Egypt: Market closed due to a public holiday.

Kenya: NSE 20 -0.04%, Vols USD 11.65m

Unbelievable day in Kenya today with value traded amounting to an extremely impressive $11.65m. There were a number of large crosses that went through in all the major names throughout the day. EABL was yet again the biggest contributor towards value traded with 2.34m shares changing hands in the name with a cross of 1.4m shares going through at 216 half way through the session. Banking stocks Equity Bank and Kenya Commercial Bank saw foreigners on both sides of the names with 9.38m and 2.48m shares changing hands in the counters respectively. Safcom was also rather active today with a total of 12.24m shares trading thanks to a cross early on of 5m shares at 3.40. Foreigners were net sellers today accounting for $8.62m of total sales while they accounted for $7.44m of total purchases. The market closed slightly lower with the NSE 20 Index dropping 0.04% to close at 3,579.57.

Mauritius: Semdex +0.15%, Vols USD 1.35m

Another active day in Mauritius today with value traded amounting to USD 1.35m thanks to MCB as there were a number of large crosses in the counter. There was a large cross of 124k shares at 166 towards the end of the session which helped the name close 0.61% higher on the day. SBM was however a bit quieter with a total of 55k shares changing hands and closing flat at 81.50. NMH and Rogers closed the day lower, falling 0.70% and 2.40% to close at 70.50 and 326.00 respectively. The market managed to close in positive territory with the Semdex gaining 0.15% to close at 1,795.82.

Nigeria: ASI +0.34%, Vols USD 18.96m

Banks yet again leading from the front with the Bank10 Index gaining 0.55%. Guaranty Bank and First Bank were the two biggest contributors towards value traded with 44m and 55.5m shares changing hands in the names respectively. Brewers Nigeria Breweries and Guinness were impressive on the volume front today with 4.36m and 668k shares trading in the names respectively. There were a number of crosses in the blue chips with foreigners mainly on the buy side of the big names. On the economic front, inflation for March increased to 12.1% from 11.9% in February after the government lifted gasoline subsidies.

South Africa: Top 40 +0.66%, Vols USD 1.68bn

The JSE ended the day higher with the Top 40 index gaining 0.66% to close at 30,021 while value traded amounted to USD 1.68bn. Resources were the day's biggest gainers with the Index gaining 1.36% followed Financials and Industrials which gained 0.50% and 0.39% respectively. The Rand was trading at 7.77 and 10.26 to the USD and EUR respectively by the time local markets closed.

Zambia: LuSE +0.05%, Vols USD 434

A bit ridiculous in Zambia today with a paltry $434 traded in the market. The were only two names that traded, CECZ and ZSUG. Value traded in ZSUG amounted to $284 while value traded in CECZ amounted to $150.

Zimbabwe: Industrial -1.31%, Mining +7.20%, Vols USD 715k

Rather quiet day in Harare today with value traded amounting to USD 715k. The Industrial Index fell 1.31% to close at 130.53 largely as a results of the likes of AICO, Delta, OK and Seedco all closing lower. Econet released results last night which saw PAT increase by a rather satisfactory 17.52% wit the name trading lower at 3.70 on rather thin volume. The Mining sector closed firmly in positive territory with the Index gaining 7.20% to close at 95.29 thanks to gains in BNC, Falgold and Hwange.