Movers & Shakers: February 20, 2012

Botswana: DCI +0.17, Vols USD 672k

The market witnessed increased vols today with USD 672k worth trading compared to USD 21k on Friday. The DCI edged up 0.17% to 6997.97pts. Letshego and FNBB accounted for 78% and 21% of the day's turnover. 2,691,100 shares traded in Letshego at 140t while 388,783 exchanged hands in FNBB at 265 and 266t. Cresta ended the day 5t higher at 90t. Choppies, Primetime and Turnstar were unchanged at 179t, 185t and 128t respectively.

Egypt: EGX 30 +0.77%, USD 141m

The market ended the day in green with the EGX30 up 0.77%, ending the day at 5152.64 points. Market volumes continue to improve, market traded a total turnover of EGP845m. The market started trading the with day with a positive sentiment, with foreign investors as net-buyers, yet in the last 30mins of trading the market came off its best levels, as profit taking is quite evident amongst investors at current levels following the recent rally witnessed in most stocks. Non-Arab Foreigners ended the day as net-sellers along with local retail and Arab Investors, leaving local institutions to end the day as the sole net buyers.

Investor mix:
•  Foreigners were net Sellers by 13.89 mn EGP and were 15.68% of the market.
•  Egyptians were net Buyers by 30.72 mn EGP and were 79.95% of the market.
•  Egyptians were net Buyers by 30.72 mn EGP and were 79.95% of the market.
•  Institutions were net Buyers by 19.48 mn EGP and were 37.69% of the market.
•  Retail were net Sellers by 19.48 mn EGP and were 62.30% of the market.

Kenya: NSE 20 -0.20%, Vols USD 1.7m

The NSE ended the day sluggish amidst continued decline in foreign investor participation. EABL was amongst the day’s most actively traded counters, on a volume of 267,200 shares at a stable average price of KES 178.00. A block of approximately 150,000 shares was crossed by local investors in the first few minutes of market open. BAT, the day’s second top mover. The tobacco company (FY11 results expected on 27 February) has seen its stock trade at narrow range of between KES 247-263, since the start of the year. At close of trading, Pan Africa insurance reported FY11 results marking a 24.8% y/y decline in normalized EPS to KES 4.62. Earlier in the day, the insurer’s share price had inched 1.3% higher to KES 19.78. 800,000 shares of KenolKobil were crossed at KES 11.00 just before the market close. The strong demand on the counter has seen its price edge up 1.8%to KES 11.00 from last week’s close.

Mauritius: Closed for the day

Nigeria: ASI +0.14%, Vols USD 17.40m

The NSE ASI closed up 14bps and traded a total value of $17.40m. Top traded stocks are UBA, Zenith Bank, Skye Bank, Crusader Insurance, Access Bank, First Bank, RT Briscoe, Oando, GTB and Wema Bank. Top losers of the day were Forte Oil (-5.00%), Evans Medical Plc (-4.92%), Goldlink Insurance (-4.76%), National Salt Company of Nigeria (-3.95) and Wema Bank (-3.77%). The gainers were led by Ikeja Hotel (5.00%), Dangote Flour (4.95%), Oando (4.90%), Fidson Healthcare (4.84%) and Eterna Oil (4.80%). The banking sector index closed up 66bps. UBA closed up 4.76% at N1.98 and traded 109.80m units while Zenith Bank also closed down 0.24% at N12.25 while trading 82.53m units. Skye Bank closed down 1.90% at N3.61 while trading 20.85m units. The sector also had crosses of 104m units of UBA, 70m units of Zenith Bank, 14m of Skye Bank, 13m units of Access Bank and 4.3m units of Wema Bank. In the building materials sector, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria closed down 1.27% at N4.65 and traded 757k units while Ashaka Cement also closed down 1.87% at N10.50 and traded 600k units in total. Dangote Cement closed down 0.18% at N110 and traded 147k units. In the food and beverages sector, Nigerian Breweries closed up 1.33% at N99 and traded 4.57m units in total while Nestle closed flat at N441 and traded 61k units. Cadbury closed flat at N9.29 and traded 276k units in total. There were also crosses of 3.2m units of Transcorp, 19m units of Crusader Insurance, 5.8m units of Oando Plc, 1m units of Paints and Coatings Plc and 8m units of RT Briscoe. Market participation may have been split 60% - 40% between foreign and local investors respectively.

South Africa: Top 40 +0.07%, Vols USD 1.09bn

The JSE held firm amid low volumes due to a public holiday in the USA. Value traded stood at USD 1.09bn. The Top 40 ended the day 0.07% higher at 30,393.94. At the time of closing, the rand was trading at 7.67 to the greenback and 12.13 to the Pound.

Zambia: LuSE -0.64%, Vols USD 16k

The Lusaka bourse commenced the week on thin vols with only USD 16k exchanging hands. Zanaco was down 0.09% at Zmk 1,080. Farm lost 1.74% to Zmk 2,800. FQMZ edged down 4.54% to ZMK 5,150 while SBCL recorded the only gain of the day, up 0.12% at ZMK 85.10.

Zimbabwe: Industrials -0.09%, Mining +1.72%, Vols USD 615k

The Industrial index gave-up -0.09% or 0.13pts to 147.12pts amid mixed trading among heavy cap counters. Weighing down on the index was banking stock CBZ and Barclays which eased -2.05% and 1.21% to 9c and 4.3c respectively as DZL, Seedco and Colcom lost -4.52%, -1.79% and -12.50% respectively. Among the gainers, Old Mutual recovered +0.56% to 170c, BAT added +2.86% to 180c, ABC and ZBFH put on +1.25% and 23.08% to 81c and 16c respectively while AICO recovered +1.67% to 19c. Impressive demand in telecoms giant Econet from foreign investors saw the group put on +1.05% to 386.02c and was the most traded stock of the day after 111,713 units exchanged hands in trades worth $431,200. Volumes were generally thin across board as turnover dropped 75% to $615,000. AFRE rose a further +9.86% to 7.8c and is now 300% firmer since the acquisition of a controlling stake by NSSA early last week, TN has added +21% to 4.6c since the cautionary statement about negotiations taking place at the bank that could material impact. A 10% rise in Rio to 55c drove the mining's +1.72% up at 103.20c. Rio has been on a steady rise following a press statement advising stakeholders on a new recapitalization plan acceptable to shareholders that the management is considering. Hwange was steady at 35c as it closed net sellers.