The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) closed the trading session on 18th March 2026 on a positive note, with the Nairobi All Share index (NASI) gaining 0.1% to close at 211.29 points, driven by gains across blue chip stocks such as Equity Group, EABL, Safaricom PLC, and Absa Bank Kenya, which advanced 1.3%, 0.4%, 0.3%, and 0.2%, respectively.
The exchange’s indices recorded mixed performance in today’s session. The NSE 10 and NSE 25 advanced by 0.3% and 0.1% to close at 2,257.02 points and 5,918.40 points, respectively. In contrast, the NSE 20 and the Banking Sector Indices declined 0.5% and 0.1% settling at 3,686.31 points and 245.15 points, respectively.
Trading activity remained subdued, with the volume shares traded falling 22% to 19,674,312 shares. Similarly, equity turnover declined 10.9% to KES 381.65 million from KES 428.38 million in the previous session. Market capitalization rose marginally by 0.1% to KES 3.5 trillion, signaling slightly improved investor sentiment.
NSE Top Gainers
Manufacturing firm, Flame Tree Group led the gainers appreciating 5.9% to close at KES 2.68, followed by Africa Mega Agricorp which gained 5.0% to close at KES 115.75. Kenya Airways, East Africa Portland Cement (EAPC), and Eaagads Plc rose by 3.0%, 2.8%, and 1.8%, respectively.
NSE Top Losers
On the losers’ side, Shri Krishana Overseas Plc shed the most, losing 3.7% to settle at KES 9.82. Other notable losers included CIC Group (-2.5%), Olympia Capital Holdings (-2.4%), Unga Group -2.1%), and BK Group Plc (-1.9%).
Market Movers
Equity Group Holdings Plc emerged the most traded stock, with a turnover of KES 129.21 million. The counter gained 1.3% to close at an all-time high of KES 79.00, supported by the release of its FY2025 results, where the lender posted a KES 75.5 billion record after-tax profit – up 54.7% YoY, and declared a total dividend of KES 5.75 per share – up 35.3% YoY. Other top traded counters included Kenya Airways, KCB Group, DTB-Kenya, and Safaricom PLC, which recorded turnovers of KES 55.8 million, KES 53.7 million, KES 22.3 million, and KES 18.9 million, respectively.
Foreign Participation
Foreign investors remained net sellers, recording net outflows of KES 15 million compared to net outflows of KES 36 million in the previous session. Financial stocks including Equity Group, KCB Group, and I&M Group were among the top foreign investor buys.
Follow our WhatsApp channel here, our Telegram channel here, and our X page here., and our LinkedIn page here.
Also Read: KCB Group’s FY2025 EPS Rises 11%, Board More than Doubles Dividend to KES 7.00 a Share
