Movers & Shakers: May 04, 2012

Botswana: DCI -0.44%, Vols USD 200k

The market closed the day lower with the DCI falling 0.44% to close at 7,115.81 while value traded amounted to USD 200k. FNBB (280t, +5t) and NAP (235t, +5t) were the only counters to close higher on the day. Engen (553t, -1t) was the only counter to close lower.

Egypt: Market closed today

Ghana: Vols USD 105k

Value traded on the Ghanaian Stock Exchange amounted to USD 105k today. GCB was the biggest contributor towards value traded (67.03%) with the name closing at 1.85. CAL was the second biggest contributor towards value traded (6.78%) with the counter closing at 0.24.

Kenya: NSE 20 +0.72%, Vols USD 6.17m

Another active day in Nairobi with value traded amounting to $6.17m. KNCB was the day's biggest contributor towards value traded after the Central Bank's decision late yesterday afternoon to leave rates unchanged at 18%. There were a number of large crosses in the name with foreigners evident on the buy sides of the counter, a total of 6.37m shares changed hands. EABL was yet again rather active with 500k shares traded thanks to a few crosses with locals on both sides of the name. Equity Bank was also rather active with 3.49m shares trading in the name thanks to a number of crosses with foreigners interested mostly on the buy side of the stock. Safcom rallied to a 9-month high, closing at 3.45 on speculation that the company will announce stronger earnings than expected next week. Foreigners were net buyers, accounting for $3.88m of total purchases while they accounted for $1.99m of total sales. The market closed in positive territory with the NSE 20 Index gaining 0.72% to close at 3,611.10.

Mauritius: Semdex -0.09%, Vols USD 560k

Quiet day in Mauritius with value traded amounting to USD 560k. There were a few crosses in SBM total with a total of 133 shares traded in the name, and closing 0.62% lower at 81.00. MCB was rather quiet with 18k shares traded in the name. New Mauritius Hotels closed the day flat at 72.00. The market closed the day slightly lower with the Semdex falling 0.09% to close at 1,798.07.

Nigeria: ASI +0.57%, Vols USD 30.50m

Another active day in Lagos to end the week. And once again, the banking sector drove the rally with the BNK10 +2.45% on good volumes. However, the rally does feel like its losing steam. FBN and Access both had strong trading days (+5%, closing on strong net bids) although other names were mixed (GTB -1.22%, Zenith -38bps) and local speculation is that in addition to genuine buyers there are a number of speculators about. The consumer names also had a more mixed day. NB continues to drive higher closing up +1.38% at N112.80 while Guinness closed down 83bps at N240 – both names trading in decent volume. Dangote Flour also had a strong day after rumours about South Africa’s Tiger Brands looking to buy a stake in the producer.

In other news, Nigeria’s telecoms regulator ordered MTN to improve its network service or face sanctions.

South Africa: All Share -0.90%, Vols USD 1.64bn

The JSE ended the day lower with the Top 40 Index falling 0.90% to close at 30,065 while value traded amounted to USD 1.64bn. Resources were the day's biggest losers with the Index falling 2.19% followed by Industrials which fell 0.10% while Financials closed the day unchanged. The Rand was trading at 7.81 and 10.25 to the USD and EUR respectively by the time local markets closed.

Zambia: LuSE unch, Vols USD 2k

Absolutely dead in Zambia today with value traded amounting to a paltry USD 2k. The names that traded included CECZ, ZSUG, LAFA and NATB. CECZ was the bigges contributor towards turnover with value traded in the name amounting to USD 1.7k. ZSUG was the secon biggest contributor towards turnover with value traded in the name amounting to USD 534.

Zimbabwe: Industrial -0.41%, Mining -3.76%, Vols USD 658k

Industrials closed the day lower with the Index falling 0.41% to close at 130.44 thanks largely falls in Delta, Innscor and PPC. Murray and Roberts was among the top losers following the acquisition of a 47% stake Zumbani Capital at a 79% discount from the last traded price of 7c. The Mining Index also closed the day lower, falling 3.76% to close at 95.54 as a result os falls in Falgold and Hwange.