Movers & Shakers: January 16, 2012

Botswana: DCI -0.18%, Vols USD 24k

The BSE ended the day 0.18% in the red on thin vols of USD 24k. FNBB and Letshego lost 2t a piece to end at 261t and 150t respectively. RDCP was down 4t to 720t. ABCH was unchanged at 455t.

Egypt: EGX 30 -0.20%, Vols USD 35m

The market ended the day slightly lower, leaving the EGX 30 to end the day down 0.20%, to close at 3832.39 points. Volumes continue to improve, market traded a total turnover of USD 35m. The market opened lower to reach a low of 3823.27 points, by med session the market changed it trading sentiment to trade positively to reach a high of 3843.87 points, yet the market couldn’t hold its grounds and ended the day in negative territories. COMI lead the market in terms of volumes accounting for approx 11% of total turnover, the name ended the day down 0.44% last printing EGP20.28.

Investor mix:
•  Foreigners were net Buyers by 16.23 mn EGP and were 19.00% of the market.
•  Egyptians were net Sellers by 15.22 mn EGP and were 77.23% of the market.
•  Arabs were net Sellers by 1.03 mn EGP and were 3.77% of the market.
•  Institutions were net Buyers by 10.39 mn EGP and were 36.40% of the market.
•  Retail were net Sellers by 25.61 mn EGP and were 63.59% of the market.

Kenya: NSE 20 -0.1%, Vols USD 600k

The Nairobi bourse commenced the week on a low note with minimal activity witnessed across the board. Turnover declined 65.4% to USD 0.6m , the lowest level observed ytd, with 14 gainers recorded against 17 decliners. Scangroup traded 4.0% higher at KES 39.00 326,700 shares. Foreign supply on Kenya Power was up in today’s session which saw a total of 372,000 shares traded at a lower price of KES 16.25 (-0.6%). 3m Safcom crossed at a stable price of KES 3.20. Local investor activity was noted on KenolKobil which traded 114,800 shares to close the day 0.5% lower at KES 9.80.

Mauritius: Semdex -0.05%, Vols USD 388k

The market ended the day marginally lower with the Semdex down 0.05% and the Sem-7 down 0.01%. market turnover stood at USD 388k. The hotel sector was characterised by weaknesses. NMH gave up 1.3% to close at Rs79, Lux Resorts was down 1.6% to Rs24.70. Sun gave up 1.8% to Rs45. On the banking side, MCB and SBM were unchanged at Rs166 and Rs83. The Demex gained 0.1% to 153.04pts.

Nigeria: ASI -0.07%, Vols USD 1.77m

With no resolution reached between the government and labour unions over the weekend with regards to the fuel subsidies the market was extremely quiet as expected with value traded amounting to a paltry USD 1.77m while the ASI fell 0.07% to close at 20,840.97. ETI, Skye Bank, First Bank and UBA were amongst the biggest contributors towards volume. Towards the end of trade the labour unions suspended strikes on the fuel subsidies. Hopefully this brings some calm to the financial markets.

South Africa: Top 40 +1.04%, Vols USD 890m

The JSE ended the day higher with the Top 40 Index gaining 1.04% to close at 29,639 while value traded amounted to USD 890m. Industrials were the day's biggest gainers with the Index rallying 1.30% followed by Resources and Financials which gained 1.01% and 0.31% respectively. The Rand was trading at 8.09 and 10.24 to the USD and EUR respectively by the time local markets closed.

Zambia: LuSE +0.46%, Vols USD 9k

The market recorded a turnover of USD 9,740. The counters that traded today included BATA, CECZ, INVE, SCBL, ZNCO and ZSUG. The biggest contributor towards turnover was ZNCO, 34,857 shares traded at an average price of ZMK 1,349, turnover amounted to USD 9,061. The second biggest contributor towards turnover was BATA, 4,954 shares traded at an average price of ZMK 200, turnover amounted to USD 198.

Zimbabwe: Industrials +3.41%, Mining -6.80%, Vols USD 21.5m

The ZSE recorded a special bargain of 120,355,076 Meikles at 17.5c in trades worth $21.06m boosting ZSE daily turnover to an all time high of $21.5m. In normal trades Meikles closed at steady at 19.01c. The industrial index opened the week firmer putting on +3.41% to 146.94pts buoyed by gains in Seedco, Innscor, Hippo, DZL and Old mutual despite losses in Delta and Econet. Besides the Meikles special bargain, normal trades were however thin after 8.6m shares worth $358,000 exchanged hands. Seedco was +3.45% up at 120c on thin volumes, Hippo added +4.55% to 115c buoyed by a cross of 21,763 shares while aggressive buying in fast foods giant saw it +2.81% firmer at 58.6c. Telecoms giant Econet slipped a further -1.04% or 4.01c to 379.99c with no real appetite for the stock while Delta eased -0.71% to 69.50c. The biggest loser of the day was illiquid stock Border which lost -67.39% to 15c from 31c having last traded on 28 September 2011. The mining index was -6.80% weaker at 77.13% weighed in by losses in Hwange and Rio. Coal miner Hwange lost -6.67% to 28c while Rio eased -14.29% to 30c as the market still awaits the course of action that the group will take after shareholders short down the recapitalization proposals at an EGM on December 5 2011.