Movers & Shakers: January 10, 2013

Botswana: DCI +0.04%, USD 69k

Better day in Gaborone thanks to some action in Letlole with value traded amounting to USD 69k while the market closed the day higher with the DCI gaining 0.04% to close at 7,530.52. Letlole (150t, +1t) was the only name that closed higher on the day while BIHL (1,030t, -2t) and Primtime (184t, -1t) were the only counters that closed lower.

Egypt: EGX 30 -1.92%, USD 76m

The market witnessed notable profit taking today leaving the EGX30 down 1.92% to close at 5,754.51 points. Market volumes were slightly lower than recent turnovers yet an improvement to average volumes, the market traded a total turnover of USD 76m. The market witnessed notable profit booking today lead by international institutional investors, this came after being aggressive buyers in the last couple of weeks, local institutions started the day as net sellers yet by session end investors managed to change their sentiment to be net buyers benefiting from the various price hits. Names such as HRHO, COMI, and JUFO witnessed notable profit booking, this came after the many stocks witnessed a recent rally this week., the formers ended the day down 3.12%, 2.52% and 2.46% respectively.

Investor mix:
•  Foreigners were net Sellers by 36.73 mn EGP and were 23.62% of the market.
•  Egyptians were net Buyers by 26.21 mn EGP and were 70.43% of the market.
•  Arabs were net Buyers by 10.42 mn EGP and were 5.95% of the market.
•  Institutions were net Buyers by 34.31 mn EGP and were 34.29% of the market.
•  Retail were net Sellers by 34.31 mn EGP and were 65.70% of the market.

Kenya: NSE 20 +0.34%, USD 5.9m

Equity turnover slipped 39.3% today on reduced foreign investor activity, accounting for 47% of trades compared to 70% in the previous session. EABL was the day’s top mover accounting for 38% of trades. Despite net foreign selling the counter climbed 0.3% to touch KES 291. Of the top movers, KCB and Uchumi witnessed strong foreign investor demand (foreigners accounted for over 90% of demand) with both counters edging up 1.6% and 0.3% to KES 31.75 and KES 19.1 respectively. Access Kenya reversed most of yesterday’s losses gaining 5.3% to KES 5. Safaricom witnessed profit taking (mainly by local investors) easing 3.4% to KES 5.60. The Monetary policy committee today cut the benchmark Central bank Rate by 150bp to 9.5%.

Mauritius: Semdex +0.48%, USD 3.02m

Much better day in terms of activity as foreign interest returned to MCB with a total of 190k shares traded, most of which was done in cross trades with the counter closing at 174. There was a large cross of 300k SBM at 89.00 with a total of 373k shares traded over the day. NMH put in a rather impressive performance today and gained 6.90% to close at 62.00 after stats published in the press ahead of the official data to be released next week that tourist arrivals increased by 2.8% in December 2012.

Nigeria: ASI -0.90%, USD 21.95m

Banking stocks succumbed to a serious bit of profit taking today with the Bank10 Index falling 3.33% lead lower by Sterling Bank (-7.51%) and Zenith (-6.19%) while the likes of Stanbic (+2.59%) and Fidelity (+2.55%) bucked the trend. Nigerian Breweries (+1.68%) bounced back decently today as foreigners and locals alike sought to pick up the stock at lower levels. Activity remained rather robust with value traded amounted to $21.95m as the likes of Guaranty Trust Bank, Nigerian Breweries and Guinness were very active thanks to a few large crosses in the counters

South Africa: Top 40 +0.01%, USD 1.36bn

The JSE ended the day slightly higher with the Top 40 Index gaining 0.01% to close at 35,813 to close at 1.36bn while value traded amounted to USD 1.36bn. Resources were the day's biggest gainers with the Index gaining 0.71% while Industrials and Financials fell 0.40% and 0.34% respectively. The Rand was trading at 8.61 and 11.38 to the USD and EUR respectively by the time local markets closed.

Zambia: LuSE +0.18%, USD 24k

Another dull day in Lusaka with value traded amounting to USD 24k. The names that traded included CEC, LAFA, NATBREW, PUMA, SCZ ZNCO and ZAIN. ZAIN was the biggest contributor towards turnover with value traded in the name amounting to USD 18k. NATBREW was the second biggest contributor towards turnover with value traded in the name amounting to USD 1.8k.

Zimbabwe: Ind +1.60%, Mining +3.62%, USD 1.26m

The ZSE rose further in Thursday's trade as investors continue to scramble for the few shares on offer. Overall volumes improved 26.93% to 4.15m shares while turnover rose 73% to $1.26m but remained highly concentrated as Delta, Seedco and Rio accounted for 91% ($1.148m) of total value traded. Market breadth was good as risers outpaced losers again buy 15 to 7. Heavy caps lead the charge with beverages group, Delta hitting another all time high of 105c after rising 2.94%, Econet rebounded a further 5.98% to 466c, Innscor rose 2% to 75.99c edging towards its 52-week high of 81c while diversified group, Meikles gained 3.23% spurred by prospects on improved profitability from its mining operations. Retail giant, OK rose 3.33% to an all time high of 15.5c while AICO rose a marginal 0.33% to 9.03c. By close of call the mainstream industrial index rose 1.60% to 156.41points outpacing the ZFN top ten index which rose 1.45% weighed down by PPC which lost 0.96% to 208c. The huge appetite seen in Old Mutual in recent sessions appeared to die down at it closed steady at 165.01c. The mining index rose 3.62% spurred by gains in Bindura and Rio. The Nickel miner which recently completed a right issue to kick start operation rose 7.14% to 1.5c while Rio gained advanced 5.45% to 58c as 243 300 shares worth $141 000 exchanged hands.

African Currencies