Movers & Shakers: January 29, 2013

Botswana: DCI +0.10%, USD 1.19m

Back to normal in Bots today as Letshego completely dominated activity with total value traded amounting to USD 1.19m thanks to a large cross in the micro-lender. The market managed to close slightly higher with the DCI gaining 0.10% to close at 7,684.33.

Egypt: EGX 30 -2.01%, USD 73m

The market witnessed a notable change of sentiment from international institutional investors who ended the day as the sole net-sellers today after being notable buyer over the past couple of weeks, the EGX30 ended the day down 2.01% to close at 5,495.30 points. Market volumes improved significantly improved compared to recent market turnovers, the market traded a total turnover of USD 73m. With the violent clashes continues to erupt between protesters and security forces in several Egyptian cities and downtown Cairo. Not to mention and the Canal strip defying he curfew and Emergency rule imposed by the President, the market witnessed a sense of panic lead by international investors yet local retail investors benefited from the various price hits to end the day as net-buyers after being aggressive sellers for a while. COMI witnessed aggressive selling today on above average volumes to reach a low of EGP34.50 down 6.68% considering proximity to the market, the former ended the day down 5.30%. Its mentioning that JUFO was the only name in the EGX30 that ended the day in the greens, the former ended the day up 0.87% on decent volumes.

Investor mix:
•  Foreigners were net Sellers by 102.78 mn EGP and were 28.38% of the market.
•  Egyptians were net Buyers by 57.02 mn EGP and were 57.95% of the market.
•  Arabs were net Buyers by 45.75 mn EGP and were 13.67% of the market.
•  Institutions were net Sellers by 88.93 mn EGP and were 45.00% of the market.
•  Retail were net Buyers by 88.93 mn EGP and were 54.99% of the market.

Kenya: NSE 20 -0.01%, USD 3.6m

The bourse remained largely unchanged today with mild profit taking witnessed on a few counters. The benchmark NSE 20 index eased slightly 0.01% to close at 4,402.75 points. Equity turnover fell 14.2%, with foreign investor participation dropping to 46% compared to 56% in the previous session. Foreign investors were net buyers in the market with strong interest in EABL, Equity Bank and BAT. EABL was the day’s top mover accounting for 28% of volumes. Safaricom continued to witness foreign investor selling pressure pushing the counter 1.9% lower to KES 5.30. Nation Media gained 1.6% to KES 255 on strong local investor demand. Kengen extended its gains today climbing further 2.5% to KES 12.50. On the losing end Pan Africa Insurance and Bamburi Cement witnessed profit taking, sliding 4.6% and KES 3.8% to KES 41 and KES 202 respectively.

Mauritius: Semdex +0.14%, USD 2.19m

Much better day in Mauritius today with value traded amounting to USD 2.19m as MCB accounted for 84% of activity with two very large crosses going through at 179. SBM was unfortunately very quiet as the bulk of the volume that went through was a single cross (25k shares). NMH put in a solid performance with the hotelier gaining 0.76% to close at 69.00. Innodis issued a statement stipulating that the group had entered into a partnership with Irvine's Group for the transfer of 49.9% of its shareholding in Mozambique Farms LImitada to Irvines Mozambique Limitada while Innodis shall retain 50.1% in its Mozambican subsidiary.

Nigeria: ASI +0.31%, USD 19.82m

Consumer stocks helped drive the market higher with the likes of Nestle (+4.99%), Dangote Flour (+9.73%) and Flour Mills (+4.98%) all putting in rather impressive performances. Banking stocks came under a fair amount of pressure with the Bank 10 Index falling 0.53% lead lower by Fidelity (-4.83%) and UBA (-3.23%). Activity was noticebly lower with investors seemingly happy to sit on the sidelines after a rather good start to the year thus far. In terms of value traded it was the usual suspects Guaranty Bank, Nigerian Breweries and First Bank that dominated the session.

South Africa: Top 40 +0.22%, USD 1.26bn

The JSE ended the day higher with the Top 40 Index gaining 0.22% to close at 36,238 while value traded amounted to USD 1.26bn. Resources were the day's biggest gainers with the Index gaining 0.89% while Industrials and Financials fell 0.22% and 0.11% respectively. The Rand was trading at 9.03 and 12.18 to the USD and EUR respectively by the time local markets closed.

Zambia: LuSE +0.33%, USD 27.9k

Another quiet day in Lusaka with value traded amounting to USD 27.9k as ZSUG accounted for basically all of the volume. The names that traded included INVE, ZABR, ZMFA, ZSUG and ZNCO. ZSUG was the biggest contributor towards turnover with value traded in the name amounting to USD 27.3k.

Zimbabwe: Industrials +0.41%, Mining -2.49%, USD 1.60m

Industrials remained bullish breaking new grounds in the fifth week of straight gains. Positive sentiment appears strong, gainers outpacing losers by 12 to 5 with no signs of profit taking as the industrial index extend its monthly gain to 12.83%, the best monthly run since October 2010’s 15%. Volumes traded rose fourfold to 52m shares boosted by special bargain trades in micro cap stocks PGI and Dawn where 12.3m and 32.7m shares exchanged hands in trades worth $248 400 and $85 700 respectively. Value traded however improved by just 7.69% to $1.6m, the bulk of which was local (70%). By close of trade the industrial index was 0.41% higher at 171.96points on gains in Delta, Seedco, Old Mutual, BAT and Innscor. Telecoms giant Econet was steady at 535c ahead of the close of their offer to TN Bank minorities this Friday. The mining index slipped 1.96 points (2.49%) to close at 76.90 points weighed down by loses in Rio. RIOZIM shed 5 cents to settle at 50c. BINDURA, FALGOLD and HWANGE were recorded.

African Currencies