Movers & Shakers: May 15, 2012

Botswana: DCI -0.05%, Vols USD 95k

The market closed the day in negative terriory with the DCI falling 0.05% to close at 7,140.70 while value traded amounted to USD 95k. G4S (590t, +5t) was the only name to close higher on the day. BIHL (995t, -5t) and WIL (330t, -5t) were the only counters to close lower on the day.

Egypt: EGX 30 -1.12%, Vols USD 60m

The market managed to end the day in negative territory, leaving the EGX30 to end the day down 1.12%, to close at 5004.98 points. Volumes were within recent average volumes, market traded a total turnover of USD 60M. Volatility continued throughout the day today in Egyptian blue-chips as institutional investors (GCC and local) continue book profits at theses levels, this came on the back of the global economic woes, which have been exacerbated by Chinese growth slowdown and a downgrade of Italian banks, adding to this investors continue to be bystanders opting to decrease their level of activity until further clarity has been shed towards the presidential election.

Investor mix:
•  Foreigners were net Buyers by 5.16 mn EGP and were 27.25% of the market.
•  Egyptians were net Buyers by 1.63 mn EGP and were 67.01% of the market.
•  Arabs were net Sellers by 6.79 mn EGP and were 5.73% of the market.
•  Institutions were net Sellers by 34.67 mn EGP and were 48.51% of the market.
•  Retail were net Buyers by 34.67 mn EGP and were 51.48% of the market.

Kenya: NSE 20 +0.23%, Vols USD 5.72m

Better day in terms of activity with value traded amounting to $5.72m. There was a large cross of 720k Nation Media at 172 which acounted for a large portion of value traded today. There was a quite a bit of foreign interest in Diamond Trust Bank as foreigners were net buyers in the name with a total of 800k shares traded. Equity Bank was relatively active with 2.43m shares changing hands. Safcom closed the day flat at 3.45 with 13.31m shares traded in the name. Foreigners were net buyers today accounting for $2.47m of total purchases while they accounted for $1.59m of total sales. The market closed higher with the NSE 20 index gaining 0.23% to close at 3,637.08. The Government cut its growth forecast for 2012 to between 3.5% and 4.5% on the back of cautious investment before an election year and risks from rising oil prices.

Mauritius: Semdex +0.14%, Vols USD 1m

A quite day in mauritius with the Semdex managing to finish in the black +0.14% despite the Sem-7 falling by -12bps. The usual players MCB, SBM and NMH dominated the activity, accounting for more than 80% of the total between the three of them. There wasn't much two-way trafic with several crosses in MCB and NMH dominating the activity.

Nigeria: ASI -0.58%, Vols USD 25.82m

After a slow first half to the session the value traded recovererd to a respectable $25.82m by the time the bell went. The market was under pressure once again today and eventually closed -58bps lower. The banks, -2.2% were the key driver and main drag on the market. The one stand-out though was ETI which managed to close +2.17% for the better but as for the rest of the banks it was a blood bath with the screen covered in red. From the tier 1 names FBN took the biggest beating, falling -4.23% with UBA, and GTB both losing more than -2.3% while Zenith manged to escape unscathed. All the smaller banks felt the red heat too. DangS and DangF managed to make gains despite all the carnage around, DangF had another stellar day closing +4.91% better while DangS also closed better than +1% higher. Nigerian inflation for April was released today and came in at 12.9% which is +80bps higher than March.

South Africa: Top 40 -0.10%, Vols USD 1.83bn

The JSE ended the day slightly lower with the Top 40 index falling 0.10% to close at 29,548 while value traded amounted to USD 1.83bn. Resources were the day's biggest losers with the Index falling 0.57% followed by Financials which fell 0.37% while Industrials gained 0.50%. The Rand was trading at 8.28 and 10.56 to the USD and EUR respectively by the time local markets closed.

Zambia: LuSE +0.36%, Vols USD 19k

A really boring day in Lusaka today. Standard Chartered, Zambeef and Zanaco accounted for 87% of all the value traded. There were 4 movers on the day, one black and 3 reds. CECZ, ZNCO and ZSUG were all losers while SCBL managed to eek out a gain.

Zimbabwe: Industrial +0.25%, Mining -0.61%, Vols USD 4.69m

Extremely active day in Zimbabwe today with value traded amounting to USD 4.69m thanks to a cross of 5m Delta at 0.70. There was also a decent amount of volume in the likes of Econet, Innscor and Pearl. The industrial sector ended the day higher with the Index gaining 0.25% to close at 130.49. Miners ended the day lower with the Index falling 0.61% to close at 84.68 on the back of weakness in Rio Zim. Inflation rose to 4.03% in April from 3.98% in March.