Movers & Shakers: March 28, 2012

Botswana: DCI -0.10%, Vols USD 191k

The DCI reversed part of yesterday's gains ending the day 0.10% lower at 7042.57pts. BIHL and Engen lost 5t a piece at 1050t and 555t respectively. Choppies traded 2t lower at 145t. ABCH up 5t to 455t, Furnmat closed 5t higher at 150t, Primetime and Imara also 5t up at 185t and 285t.

Egypt: EGX 30 +1.10%, Vols USD 79m

The market ended the day in positive territory today, leaving the EGX30 +1.10% to close at the 5040.05 points. Market Volumes has improved, compared to recent market volumes market traded a total USD 79m, in which more than 17.5% was attributed to OTMT alone. The market started the day with a negative sentiment yet mid-way through the session the tables turned after ORTE got suspended and positive news surfaced regarding the Djezzy valuation that the Algerian government will pay 6.5bln to acquire the firm, GDR listing of the stock got lifted to a high of USD4.40, equivalent to EGP5.32 on the local listing. Buying interest was quite evident across the board with blue chips grabbing most of the interest, the likes of COMI, ESRS, HRHO and OCIC ended more than 3% higher.

Investor mix:
•  Foreigners were net Sellers by 22.22 mn EGP and were 21.62% of the market.
•  Egyptians were net Buyers by 17.45 mn EGP and were 71.34% of the market.
•  Arabs were net Buyers by 4.77 mn EGP and were 7.04% of the market.
•  Institutions were net Sellers by 4.27 mn EGP and were 35.22% of the market.
•  Retail were net Buyers by 4.27 mn EGP and were 64.77% of the market.

Ghana: Vols USD 38k

Value traded on the Ghanaian Stock Exchange amounted to USD 38k. CAL was the biggest contributor towards value traded (34.48%) with the name closing at 0.24 Cedi. BOPP was the second biggest contributor towards value traded (26.57%) with the counter closing at at 1.69 Cedi. Producer price inflation for February increased to 16.1% from a revised 15% a month earlier. Unilever announced an increase in full-year profit of 56%.

Kenya: NSE 20 +0.83%, Vols USD 3.60m

Relatively active day with value traded amounting to $3.60m with foreign purchases accounting for $2.88m of total purchases while foreign sales accounted for $519k of total sales. EABL was the major driving force behind activity with 634k shares changing hands. There was a large cross of 300k shares at 200 relatively early in the session with the buyer being foreign while the seller was local, there was another cross later in the session of about 110k shares. The two big banking stocks were active yet again today with 2.26m shares trading in KNCB while 2.02m shares changed hands in EQBNK with a number of medium size crosses in both and foreigners showing interest on the buy side. After announcing an increase in turnover of 39% after the session yesterday Athi River Mining managed to rally 1.25% to close at 162 albeit it on very thin volume. Overall the market closed higher with the NSE 20 Index gaining 0.83% to close at 3,367.23. The Shilling increased for a second day in a row to 82.80 on increased tea and coffee sales.

Mauritius: Semdex +0.34%, Vols USD 2.3m

The market was characterised by increased vols today with the official turnover at Rs60.2m while the Dem recorded turnover of Rs5.1m. Turnover was geared mainly towards significant crosses in MCB, SBM and NMH. The trio contributed to just over 90% of the market turnover. MCB saw 243,900 shares trade 0.61% lower at Rs162, yielding turnover of Rs39,752,200. Other banking stock traded 1.91% higher at Rs80 on 105,900 shares. 86,200 NMH traded 1.44% higher Rs70.50. The conglomerate Rogers declared Rs4.50 as interim dividend today, driving the stock up +1.3% at Rs309.

Nigeria: ASI +0.29%, Vols USD 15.15m

Bit of a lackluster day in terms of volume with value traded amounting to $15.15m. Banks were once again the biggest contributors towards value traded with 32m shares traded in Zenith while 29m shares changed hands in Guaranty Bank thanks to a number of crosses in both names. Nigerian Breweries showed a bit more stability today with the name with the counter trading consistently around the 97 level and closing at 97.50 (as a result of the 50k share rule in Nigeria). The market closed the day higher with the ASI gaining 0.29% to close at 20,977.59 while the Bank10 Index fell 1.05%. The Naira fell to 157.7 against the USD after crude exporting companies reduced Dollar sales and paid for gasoline imports.

South Africa: Top 40 -0.81%, Vols USD 1.39bn

The market closed the day lower with the Top 40 Index falling 0.81% to close at 29,715 while value traded amounted to USD 1.39bn. Resources were the day's biggest losers with the Index falling 1.93% followed by Financials which fell 0.53% while Industrials gained 0.21%. The Rand was trading at 7.68 and 10.21 to the USD and EUR respectively by the time local markets closed.

Zambia: LuSE -0.51%, Vols USD 520k

Better day from an activity point of view today with value traded amounting to USD 520k. The names that traded included NATB, ZNCO, CECZ, ZABR, BATZ and LAFA. NATB was the biggest contributor towards turnover with value traded in the name amounting to USD 394k. CECZ was the second biggest contributor towards turnover with value traded in the name amounting to USD 68k.

Zimbabwe: Industrials -0.89%, Mining -0.65%, Vols USD 3.8m

A special bargain of 830,000 Econet shares at 380c on foreign buying was the highlight of the day’s trading lifting turnover to a flattering $3.8m as trades were largely dull in most of the counters. Turnover in normal trades was at $670,622 the bulk of which coming from mining house RioZim that saw 676,095 shares trading at 50c. Both the industrial and mining indices closed the day in the red with the former -0.89% to 136.62pts while the latter dropped -0.65% to 86.99c. Econet traded down -1.32% at 375c; Delta that came off -1.18% to 67.99c, Hippo which shed -0.10% to 99.9c, SeedCo which traded -3.85% softer at 100c and Natfoods that came off -8% to 115c. ABCH however led the risers for the day putting on +2.94% to 70c in thin trades. Renewed demand in Barclays saw their price close the day +0.25% firmer at 4c while Dairibord added +0.06% to 17.01c to complete the lean risers list. RioZim reversed gains from yesterday falling -1.96% to 50c whilst Bindura dropped -7.5% to a low of 1.85c. Hwange was stable at 27c while no trades were seen in Falgold.