Movers & Shakers: May 24, 2012

Botswana: DCI +0.26%, Vols USD 295k

The DCI ended the day 0.26% higher. BIHL was actively traded in with 102,963 shares trading in the name at 1000t, accounting for 49% of the day's turnover. Letshego saw 470k shares trade at 150t. Choppies picked up 1t to end the day at 163t.

BRVM: BRVM Comp -0.22%, BRVM 10 -0.29%, Vols USD 295k

Both indices ended the day in negative territory. PALM CI led the losers down 5.26% at XOF 18,000. SICABLE CI lost 1.56% at XOF 31,500 while CIE CI traded 0.23% lower at XOF 22,000. BOA BN edged up 0.93% at XOF 54,000. SOGB CI was up 0.13% at XOF 79,000.

Egypt: EGX 30 +1.01%, Vols USD 55m

The market continues to rebound today to end the day up 1.01% to close at 4921.88 points. Volumes were within recent market volume, market traded a total turnover of USD 55m. The market to followed on yesterdays strong performance on the back of strong buying appetite from both local retail and GCC institutions targeting local blue chips, yet foreign institutions remain as net sellers in the market. The real-estate managed to rebound today after taking the strongest hit in recent sessions, names such as TMGH, PHDC and OCDI ended the day up 1.19%,1.62% and 0.82% respectively. Names such as OCIC, HRHO and COMI lead the market interims of volumes, each ending the day up 0.89%, 0.45% and 2.31% respectively.

Investor mix:
•  Foreigners were net Sellers by 75.93 mn EGP and were 25.37% of the market.
•  Egyptians were net Buyers by 32.16 mn EGP and were 47.70% of the market.
•  Arabs were net Buyers by 43.76 mn EGP and were 26.93% of the market.
•  Institutions were net Sellers by 60.94 mn EGP and were 47.23% of the market.
•  Retail were net Buyers by 60.94 mn EGP and were 52.76% of the market.

Kenya: NSE 20 -0.26%, Vols USD 3.28m

The market felt rather quiet today and there was a clear lack of interest from foreign participants as they were net sellers, accounting for $1.03m of total sales while they accounted for $710k of total purchases, total value traded on the market amounted to $3.28m. There was a fair amount of activity in Kenya Commercial Bank with 3.09m shares changing hands in the name thanks to one or two decent crosses. Uchumi was extremely active with 2.19m shares traded thanks to a number of crosses and closed the day 1.29% lower at 19.10 after a recent strong run. Very interesting to see quite a bit of activity in KPLC today with 2.63m shares traded in the counter after Gulf Energy Ltd announced plans to build an 80 megawatt power plant. The market closed in negative territory with the NSE 20 Index falling 0.26% to close at 3,668.21.

Mauritius: Semdex -0.34%, Vols USD 962k

The market continued trading south with only two stocks trading in positive territory against eight decliners. MCB traded flat at Rs169 while SBM closed 0.6% in the red at Rs84. Rogers lost 0.60% at Rs328 on 1.1k shares traded. Air Mauritius was down 5.2% to Rs11 on 5k shares. A cross of 272k shares on MOR was recorded at Rs26.

Nigeria: ASI -0.43%, Vols USD 17.89m

Another somewhat muted day in Lagos as global concerns still ensures caution from most investors. Banks were the main drag on the index with the BNK10 down 83bps, led down by Skyebank (-4.46%, N3.00) and Diamond Bank (-2.97%, N2.61) while all other banks closed slightly in the red. Most activity was focused on GTB which traded more than 51mill shares. NB once again saw some excitement and crossing went through once again. More than 4.2mill shares exchanged hands with the name closing down 1.82% at N108. The naira continues to weaken (currently N159.95 v the USD) as speculation persists that the state oil company won’t sell foreign currency.

South Africa: Top 40 +0.48%, Vols USD 1.5bn

A pick-up in the activity level with $1.5bn trading and the screens are all green with the golds finishing the session strongest +4.545% in the black and the resources almost a percent better than at the start of the session - the JSE did however lag the international mkts. Investor sentiment remains fragile though with all the global concerns that abound, all eyes will remain on EU macro. Manufacturing in France, Germany and Switzerland was very weak.

Zambia: LuSE -0..25%, Vols USD 40k

Relatively quiet in Zambia today with value traded amounting to USD 40k. The names that traded included CEC, NATB, PUMA, SCBL, ZNCO and ZSUG. NATB was the biggest contributor towards turnover with value traded in the name amounting to USD 25k. ZSUG was the second biggest contributor towards turnover with value traded in the name amounting to USD 7k.

Zimbabwe: Industrial -0.14%, Mining Unch, Vols USD 556k

The Industrial index ended the day in the red on subdued vols with turnover down 60% to USD 556,755. Innscor which enjoyed a sharp rally gaining 12.74% earlier this week faced resistance at 61.11c and lost 1.61% to 60c. Econet was steady at 420c, accounting for 60% of the day's turnover with 75,679 shares trading in the name. Old Mutual traded unchanged at 145c. No trades were recorded on the Mining's index.