Movers & Shakers: January 07, 2013

Botswana: DCI +0.01%, USD 42k

Rather dull day in Gaborone with value traded amounting to USD 42k while the market closed the day slightly higher with the DCI gaining 0.01% to close at 7,510.63. On a rather dire day there were no counters that witnessed any change in price.

Egypt: Market closed for the day.

Kenya: NSE 20 +0.51%, USD 1.8m

The benchmark NSE 20 Share Index extended its gains from the previous week climbing 0.51% in today’s session. Equity turnover however plunged 55.5% due to decreased foreign investor activity. Overall foreign investor participation was at 34% of trades, with net buying positions in KCB and Safaricom and net selling in KenolKobil. KCB continued to dominate trading accounting 42.2% of volumes. Safaricom sustained its upward momentum during trading touching a new 12 month high of KES 5.45 though closing at KES 5.35 (1.9% higher than the previous session). Stanchart also edged up 1.3% to KES 239 purely on local investor buying. Jubilee insurance gained 7.8% touching a 12 high of KES 194, though on very light trading. Similarly ARM rose 4% touching its 12 month high of KES 52. On the losing end NIC reversed its previous session gains, easing 2.5% to KES 39.75.

Mauritius: Semdex -0.01%, USD 1.65m

There was a decent amount of activity on the Island today with value traded amounting to USD 1.65m. MCB drove activity with substantial foreign interest in the name as a total of 116k shares traded, 70k of which was done in crosses. Foreigners also sought after SBM as a total of 136k shares traded in the counter thanks to a few crosses. There was a large cross of 1.5m shares in Air Mauritius done at Rs10.00 on the crossing board.

Nigeria: ASI +1.57%, USD 18.76m

The unrelenting rally in banking stocks continued today with the Bank10 Index gaining another impressive 4.22%. The star performers came in the form of the mid-tier banks and were FCMB (+10%), Fidelity (+9.93%) and Sterling (+9.90%). Cosumer stocks performed relatively well as well today with a number of the names having some decent gains. In terms of activity it was the usual culprits that lead the way with Zenith Bank, First Bank, Nigerian Breweries and Guaranty Bank being amongst the biggest contributors. There was a noticeabe increase in foreign participation today.

South Africa: Top 40 -0.38%, USD 875k

The JSE ended the day lower with the Top 40 Index falling 0.38% to close at 35,641 while value traded amounted to USD 875k. Industrials were the day's biggest losers with the Index falling 038% followed by Resources which fell 0.26% while Financials gained 0.56%. Th Rand was trading at 8.58 and 11.20 to the USD and EUR respectively by the time local markets closed.

Zambia: LuSE -0.22%, USD 39k

Slow day in Lusaka today with value traded amounting to USD 39k. The names that traded included CEC, REIZ, SHP, ZAMBREW and ZNCO. ZAMBREW was the biggest contributor towards turnover with value traded in the name amounting to USD 30k. SHP was the second biggest contributor towards turnover with value traded in the name amounting to USD 5.8k.

Zimbabwe: Ind +0.18%, Mining +0.38%, USD 196k

ZSE stocks opened the week higher albeit on thin volumes with appetite for heavy cap stocks remaining strong. Heavy caps, Seedco, Innscor and Meikles closed higher pushing the ZFN top ten index up 0.43% while the mainstream index rose 0.18% to 152.10points. Seedco rose 3.90% to 80c, strong buying in fast foods giant Innscor took the price 2.04% up at 74.5c while Meikles added 0.73% to 15.11c. ZSE top capitalized stocks Delta and Econet were unchanged at 100c and 445c amid strong interest. Losses were seen in PGI which eased 20% to 0.40c, TPH down 5% to 9.50c and mining stocks Bindura and Rio fell 6.67% and 0.36% to 1.4c and 55c respectively. The resources index however was 0.38% firmer after Hwange’s 5.88% gain cancelled the losses in Bindura and Rio. Trading activity was at a 52-week lowest with volumes dropping 80% to 0.73m shares from the 22stocks that traded while turnover was 94% lower at $0.196m. Foreign participation remained net purchases by $0.105m.

African Currencies