Movers & Shakers: November 20, 2013

Botswana: DCI +0.05%, USD 124k

An uneventful day in Gaborone with the only real activity being some mild trading in FNBB (388t).

Egypt: EGX 30 +1.41%, USD 110m

The market managed to ignore all the negative news today, trading on positive sentiment, causing the EGX30 to end the day up 1.41% to close at 6,497.56 points. Market volumes significantly picked up today to trade a total turnover of USD 110m. Clashes between protesters and security forces yesterday and another attack in Sinai managed to have little effect on the market ignored, witnessing a rally lead by strong buying acclamation from local institutions. Names such as COMI, TMGH, ESRS, and SKPC managed to break another 52-week high leaving each to end the day up 0.96%, 2.94%, 0.76%, and 2.56%. Local retail ended the day as net sellers with names such as AUND(-4.49%), EIUD(-0.28%), and UEGC(-1.64%) witnessing selling pressure.

Kenya: NSE 20 -0.57%, USD 6.0m

Despite the improved overall volumes the trading activity is still heavily dominated by local investors. The most active stock today was Bamburi which saw a chunky cross go through at KES 210 (local buyer, foreign seller) while Safcom was also heavily traded and closed the session up 1% at an impressive KES 10.05. The banks were quieter than normal but we did see some strong buying in KNCB (+1.06%, KES 47.50) while Equity Bank closed unchanged at KES 35.50.

Mauritius: Semdex +0.05%, USD 1.22m

Although volumes remain light in Port Louis we saw some decent swings on the Sem-7 stocks (-15bps in total). The falling stocks were MCB (-49bps, Rs203), NMH (-57bps, Rs86.50) and ENL Land (-98bps, Rs50.50) while gains were registered in Alteo (+14bps, Rs37.05) and Terra (+2.50%, Rs41).

Nigeria: ASI +1.46%, USD 23.1m

The bulls returned with some aggression today particularly in the banks (+56bps) and consumers (+1.03%). Banks were strong across the board with most Tier 1 names also seeing some nice crosses going through. The main outperformers were UBA (+4%, N7.80) and Diamond Bank (+3.77%, N7.15) while the consumer outperformance was mainly driven by Cadbury (+2.98%, N58.80), UACN (+2.6%, N66.69), Guinness (+2.95%, N241.98) and NB (+1.72%, N170) while Nestle (unch, N1200) traded some chunky crosses yet again. Cements saw some decent activity as the buyers pushed Dangote Cement higher by 2.63% to N195 on big volume. Transcorp carries to rattle along at limit up and closed today at N4.86 (+10%) on good volume while Oando is also in favour (+10%, N15.56).

Please note that the index figure above is correct at the time of writing.

South Africa: Top 40 +0.18%, USD 2.59bn

The JSE ended the day higher with the Top 40 index gaining 0.18% to close at 40,408 while value traded amounted to USD 2.59bn. Financials were the day's biggest gainers with the Index gaining 0.38% followed by Industrials and Resources which gained 0.19% and 0.02% respectively. The Rand was trading at 10.07 and 13.56 to the USD and EUR respectively by the time local markets closed.

Zimbabwe: Industrials +0.16%, Mining +3.07%, USD 2.22m

The ZSE recorded improved activity in mid week trades with all indicators trekking northwards. Liquidity was enhanced to the tune of $2.22m which is almost double that churned yesterday. Delta was the most liquid stock at 26% of the aggregate flows. The beverages maker has topped value traded since the week opening session effectively overtaking Econet due to a disequiblirum condition in demand and supply of the telecoms giant. Delta was 0.01% firmer at 150.51c at close of call while Econet marginally recovered 1% to 61.61c. Volume traded added 159% to 11.43m shares augured by a 5m contribution by GBH.

African Currencies