NSE Kenya[photo/businesstoday.co.ke/]
Investors at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) increased their wealth by Sh139.21 billion in January compared to Sh150.69 billion the bourse gained in a similar period last year.
During the month all securities market indexes declined with the NSE All Share Index (NASI) gaining 9.44 points compared to a similar period last year when it gained 10.38 points.
The NSE 20-Share index, however, increased 32.76 points to close at 3737.27 points on January 31 despite starting on a low note with 3704.51points on January 2.
Equity turnover for the bourse increased by Sh446,318,907 a gain of 232.3 percent to hit Sh638,406,974 on January 31, compared to Sh192.09 billion on January 2.
John Kirimi, CEO of Sterling Capital Plc said the market started the year on a low note with most of the indicators down. “NSE 20-Share Index shed 0.20 percent with six representative counters shedding and six gaining,” he said.
He said Safaricom, Equity and East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL) were the top movers with 70.82 percent dominance. According to NSE statistics, foreign activity on the bourse stood at 76 percent with the market being a net seller.The active counter was Safaricom.
The banking sector also increased slightly by 0.16 percent. Equity Bank emerged as one of the top sector movers, generating a turnover of Sh209.65 million.
The counter moved 4.88 million shares at a flat rate of Sh43.Counters which gained on their share price included BAT whose share price increased by Sh19 per share, EABL increased by Sh14 per share, Equity Bank recorded an increase of Sh3 per share and Centum recorded a rise of Sh2.5 per share.NIC Bank and Stanbic Bank also recorded a rise of Sh2.25 and Sh1 respectively.
The telecommunication sector did not lose or gain during the period. Other sectors such as energy and petroleum increased by 0.8 percent, while the manufacturing sector increased by 0.11 percent.