The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) ended the week higher as stocks across board gained, giving investors one of the highest weekly returns on the exchange. The major blue-chip counters on the exchange contained to gain while the penny stocks and small-cap counters continued to shed in prices.
The benchmark all share index of the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NASI) was on the rise this week, adding 3.49 or 1.96% week on week to close the week at 178.65 points. This NASI now stands at 17.45% in year to date performance.
The NSE 20 and the NSE 25 share indices were similarly on the positive edge; the 20 share index gained 20.92 points or 1.07% and the 25 share index gaining 37.01 points or 0.96% to close the week at 1,972.33 points and 3,902.04 basis points respectively. The NSE 20 and the NSE25 share indices have gained up-to 5.56% and 14.25% respectively in year to date performance.
Equity turnover on the bourse dropped by 32.44% with a turnover of Kes 1.83 billion as compared to last week’s Kes 2.71 billion. The volume of shares traded at the exchange was similarly lower, posting a 32.38% decline to close the week with 56.25 million shares exchanging hands as compared to the 83.18 million traded in the previous week.
Safaricom Plc retained the top spot as the week’s most traded counter on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, with shares valued at Kes 855 million transacted. During the week, Safaricom shares saw a 3.27% rise in shares during the week to close Friday at Kes 42.60 per share from last weeks closing price of Kes 41.25. The telco’s share price saw a boost after Ethiopia formally granted a nationwide operating license to Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia Plc.
The Banking Sector was second in activity with shares valued at Kes.781 million transacted which accounted for 42.70% of the week’s traded value. Diamond Trust Bank Kenya closed the week 12.29% higher to Kes.66.25 with 5.2 million shares valued at Kes.306 million transacted. Equity Group Holdings Plc traded 4.5 million shares valued at Kes.219 million and closed the week at Kes.48.55 per share. KCB Group Plc was down 1.43% to Kes.44.85 moved 2.4 million shares valued at Kes.110 million.
Kapchorua Tea Kenya Plc was the week’s top gainer, adding 25.6% in investor wealth to close the week at Kes 98.00 per share while Crown Paints Kenya Plc was the week’s top loser, with the shares closing the week at Kes 20.25 per share, a 23.00% decline from last week’s closing price.
NSE Weekly Bonds & Derivatives Overview
The Derivatives Market of the Nairobi Securities Exchange closed the week with a total of 121 contracts valued at Kes. 4.1 million transacted, this was a decline in turnover and volume on the NEXT as compared to the 148 contracts valued at Kes. 4.6 million posted in the preceding week.
Trading on the secondary bond market at the Nairobi Securities Exchange posted a 15.65% rise in activity with Kes.25.60 billion worth of bonds traded against the Kes 22.14 billion worth of bonds transacted in the previous week.
