Movers & Shakers: September 05, 2013

Botswana: DCI +0.05%, USD 2.08m

Crosses in Choppies (2.5m shares) and Stanchart (500k shares) helped keep activity rather robust in Gaborone today as total value traded amounted to USD 2.08m. There was also some activity in FNB as 600k shares traded in the name.

Egypt: EGX 30 -0.38%, USD 38m

The market continues to trade with a mixed sentiment to end the day slightly lower, leaving the EGX30 to end the day down 0.38% to close 5,169.89 points. Market volumes continues to trade low relative to recent turnovers, the market traded a total turnover of USD 38m. With the geopolitical scene is still looking uncertain and is believed to continue causing a bit of an overhang on the overall sentiment and market volumes until further clarity is shed, the market witnessed a notable slow session to continue with its profit booking sentiment lead by local retail along international institutions were names such as JUFO, AMER and OTMT witnessed selling pressure each ending the day down 2.14%, 2.00% and 1.79% respectively. Local institutions continue to net-buyer in the market, targeting names such as ACGC, EFIC and OCDI each ending the day up 8.27%, 1.51% and 1.13% respectively.

Kenya: NSE 20 +0.38%, USD 5.6m

Activity continued to increase in Nairobi today with value traded amounting to $5.6m as foreign participation increased. Banking giants Kenya Commercial Bank (+4.7%) and Equity Bank (unch) drove turnover with foreigners accounting for the bulk of purchases in Kenya Commercial Bank while they were the majority of the sellers in Equity Bank. There was also strong foreign demand in EABL as the brewer gained 2.5% on decent volume of 307k shares. Safcom was unfortunately relatively quiet as only 4.94m shares traded in the name. A number of these names remained firmly bid at the close and if all else remains equal (globally) then the rally should continue tomorrow.

Mauritius: Semdex +0.03%, USD 1.97m

Much better day in Port Louis with some action in a number of the blue chips as value traded amounted to USD 1.97m. SBM was very active as a total of 10.3m shares changed hands in the name while MCB also had some activity with 48k shares traded over the day. Both banking stocks closed the day unchanged. There was finally some decent activity in NMH as a total of 116k shares traded while 214k shares traded in Lux Island Resorts.

Nigeria: NSE 20 +0.72%, USD 25.12m

Things seemed to return to normal in Lagos today from an activity point of view as value traded amounted to $25.12m. Dangote Cement (+N4.00) got things going early on with a cross of 1.3m shares. There was very good two-way flow in the likes of Guranty Trust Bank ($4.62m), First Bank ($2.55m) and Zenith Bank ($2.44m). Banks (-0.35%) closed the day lower with Guaranty Trust Bank (-0.25%) and Zenith Bank (-0.24%) dragging the sector lower. Consumers (+0.43%) however managed to close in positive territory thanks to the likes of Nigerian Breweries (+2.71%) on good volume of $3.03m thanks to a few crosses while Glaxo Smith Kline (+1.85%) continued to rally. There were also two large crosses in WAPCO ($2.87m) which helped boost activity.

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

South Africa: Top 40 +0.61%, USD 1.10bn

The JSE ended the day higher with the Top 40 Index gaining 0.61% to close at 38,399 while value traded amounted to USD 1.10bn. Financials were the day's biggest gainers with the Index gaining 0.91% followed by Industrials and Resources which gained 0.64% and 0.39% respectively. The Rand was trading at 10.20 and 13.39 to the USD and EUR respectively by the time local markets closed.

Zimbabwe: Industrials -0.34%, Mining unch, USD 800k

The mainstream index pared 0.34% to 176.99pts effectively wiping off yesterday’s gains as the post election sell off jinx continued. The ZSE has been on a free fall since August the 5th when presidential election results were announced. Most heavy caps were stable at previous levels with the only casualty being OK which eased a minute 0.05% to 21c dragging the industrials lower. The minings however remained stable at previous levels 46.78pts recording no trades for the fifth consecutive session. Value traded dropped by 74% from yesterday’s $3.4m to $0.8m with top contributors being Econet and OK.

African Currencies