The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) ended the session on May 4, 2026, on a weaker footing, with the Nairobi All Share Index (NASI) shedding 0.8% to close at 203.76 points. This decline reversed momentum from the previous session, driven largely by a retreat in high-valuation banking stocks and large-cap counters. The market’s downward tilt was mirrored across other key indices, with the NSE-10 and NSE-20 indices both declining by 1.2% to close at 2,109.97 and 3,503.52 points, respectively.
Market Activity and Foreign Participation
Equity turnover retreated by 12.8% to settle at KES 737.70 million, down from KES 845.58 million in the preceding session. This decline in activity was accompanied by a 0.8% drop in market capitalization, which closed the day at KES 3,379.11 billion.
Despite the broader indices being dragged lower by banking heavyweights, the bourse saw a positive shift in foreign flows, with international investors turning into net buyers for the first time in recent sessions. Recording net inflows of KES 17.71 million, providing a critical buffer that helped support the market against the more pronounced domestic selling pressure.
NSE Top Gainers & Losers
Car & General led the gainers, surging 9.6% to close at 80.00, while Longhorn Publishers rose 5.4% to reach 3.12. Positive momentum was also seen in the manufacturing and energy sectors, with Africa Mega Agricorp and Total Kenya gaining 4.6% and 4.0% respectively, while Olympia Capital Holdings rounded out the top five with a 3.9% increase to settle at 7.50.
Flame Tree Group emerged as the session’s steepest loser, falling 10.3%. The banking sector faced significant headwinds as major players—ABSA Bank Kenya, Standard Chartered, and Co-operative Bank—all recorded declines exceeding 5.0%. Nation Media Group (NMG) also continued its downward trend, shedding 5.7%.
BK Group was the most actively traded counter of the day, moving a substantial KES 388.87 million in turnover. It was followed by Equity Group, which transacted KES 121.17 million. Activity in the secondary bond market cooled significantly as turnover decreased by 41.5% to settle at KES 3.76 billion. The FXD2/2019/10Yr was the highest-grossing bond of the session, while the IFB1/2022/19Yr remained the most frequently traded paper.
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