The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) closed today’s session in the red despite an increase in trading activity.
The bourse’s major indices recorded declines, with the NSE 10 posting the largest drop, falling by 0.91% to 2,161.84 points from 2,181.73 points in the previous session. The benchmark, the Nairobi All Share Index (NASI) settled at 206.40 points, down 0.6% from the previous session. The downturn was mainly driven by losses in bellwether stocks such as EABL (-1.7%), KCB Group (1.1%), Equity Group (-1.0%), and Safaricom Plc (-0.5%).
The NSE 20 and NSE 25 closed at 3,591.28 points and 5,727.23 points, down 0.4% and 0.7%, respectively. Meanwhile, the Banking Sector Index, dropped by 0.7% to 239.14 points, as most banking stocks recorded losses.
Trading activity increased, evidenced by a 9.3% rise in volume of shares traded to 14.56 million. Equity turnover rose by 39.6% to KES 482.7 million, from KES 345.8 million. However, investor’s wealth (market capitalization), declined by 0.6% to KES 3.42 trillion.
NSE Top Gainers
Express Kenya led the gainers, appreciating by 7.7% to close at KES 7.58, followed by Eaagads Plc, which rose by 5.2%. Nation Media Group edged higher 4.3%, while Africa Mega Agricorp nudged upwards 3.9%. Standard Group rounded out the top gainers, rising 3.1%.
NSE Top Losers
On the downside, Flame Tree Group emerged the biggest laggard, shedding 6.4%. Other notable decliners included Absa New Gold ETF (-4.1%), Longhorn Publishers (-3.5%), Sasini Plc (-2.8%), and Shri Krishana Overseas Plc (-2.6%).
Foreign investors remained net sellers, recording net outflows of KES 40.32 million compared to net outflows of KES 4.30 million in the previous session.
KCB Group dominated trading, recording KES 149.38 million in turnover. Other most actively traded stocks included Safaricom Plc, Equity Group, Co-operative Bank, and Kenya Power.
Fixed Income Segment
Activity picked up in the fixed income segment, with bond turnover rising 6.4% to KES 17.20 billion, from KES 16.17 billion in the previous session.
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