Movers & Shakers: August 24, 2012

African Currencies

Botswana: DCI +0.15%, USD 22k

Rather dull day with value traded amounting to USD 22k while the DCI gained 0.15% to close at 7,353.36. Engen (600t, +10t), NAP (220t, +3t) and RDCP (690t, +5t) were the only names to close higher on the day. Choppies (165t, -3t) and FNBB (295t, -1t) were the only counters that closed lower.

Egypt: Closed for the day.

Kenya: NSE 20 -0.24%, USD 2.39m

There was not much going on in Nairobi today with value traded amounting to $2.39m as foreign participants were relatively quiet. After being very quiet for the last few session Kenya Commercial Bank was relatively active with locals dominating trade in the counter as 1.74m shares traded. After releasing results which saw PBT increase 24%, EABL was fairly quiet as 140k shares traded with foreigners accounting for 73% of purchases and 85% of sales. There was foreign interest (80% of purchases) in NMG as a large cross went through with a total 100k shares traded. Foreigners were net sellers and accounted for $890k of total sales while they accounted for $770k of total purchases. The market closed lower with the NSE 20 Index falling 0.24% to close at 3,826.89.

Mauritius: Semdex -0.14%, USD 2.87m

Very active in Mauritius today as value traded amounted to USD 2.87m thanks to a large cross of 216k Rogers at 310.00. MCB and SBM were rather quiet with 31k shares and 7k shares traded in the names respectively while both closed flat at 163.00 and 82.00 respectively. NMH closed the day unchanged at 58.00. The market closed the day lower with the Semdex falling 0.14% to close at 1,704.18.

Nigeria: ASI +0.96%, USD 18.04m

Another active day in Lagos with value traded amounting to $18.04m as banking stocks lead from the front. There was substantial foreign interest in Zenith with 47.54m shares traded on the day thanks to a number of large crosses. First Bank continued to rally, closing at 13.05 with a total of 34.43m shares traded as foreigners continue to gain exposure in the name. Both brewers Nigerian Breweries and Guinness were also rather active with 3.21m and 725k shares traded in the names respectively. The market closed the day higher with the ASI gaining 0.96% to close at 23,399.58. Nigerian oil workers shelved a national strike planned to start today after reaching an agreement with the government.

South Africa: Top 40 -0.13%, USD 1.18bn

The JSE ended the day lower with the Top 40 Index falling 0.13% to close at 31,567 while value traded amounted to USD 1.18bn. Resources were the day's biggest losers with the Index falling 1.04% while Industrials and Financials both gained 0.41%. The Rand was trading at 8.36 and 10.51 to the USD and EUR respectively by the time local markets closed.

Zambia: LuSE -0.26%, USD 293k

Decent day in Zambia today with value traded amounting to USD 293k thanks to a cross in ZAIN. The names that traded included BATZ, CECZ, SCBL, ZNCO, ZAIN, REIZ and ZSUG. ZAIN was the biggest contributor towards turnover with value traded in the name amounting to USD 286k. BATZ was the second biggest contributor towards turnover with value traded in the name amounting to USD 4k.

Zimbabwe: Industrial Index -0.40%, Mining Index unch, USD 7.29k

The market was a bit quieter today with value traded amounting to USD 729k. Delta lead from the front once again as a cross of 456k shares went through at 68.2c. There was some action in OK Zim today as a cross of 1.56m shares went through at 11.6c. The Industrial sector continued to come under pressure with the Index falling 0.40% to close at 131.29 while the Mining Index closed unchanged at 89.04 as Hwange was the only counter that traded in the sector.