British American Tobacco Kenya (BAT Kenya) dominated trading activity at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), driving total turnover to Sh3.9 billion on March 6, 2019. The cigarette manufacturer's share transactions alone accounted for 89.7% of the day’s trading value, surpassing the previous session’s Sh325 million total.
Over 20 million shares changed hands during the session, compared to 11 million on Tuesday. BAT Kenya’s trading volume reached Sh3.5 billion, outpacing other major players like Safaricom, which registered just 3.67% of the day’s traded value. Safaricom closed 10 cents higher at Sh26.50.
All major indices rose, with the NSE 20 share index gaining 2.35 points to 2909.74, the All Share Index (NASI) increasing 0.90 points to 154.60, and the NSE 25 Share index climbing 45.67 points to 3872.69.
The manufacturing sector led trading activity, with Sh3.6 billion in shares exchanged. E.A Breweries rose 3.96% to Sh203.50, trading 537,000 shares valued at Sh109 million. In the banking sector, Barclays Bank moved 5 million shares worth Sh59 million, while KCB Group gained 2.01% to Sh43.05 with Sh35.8 million in transactions.
Equity Group Holdings increased 1.61% to Sh41.10, with Sh15 million in traded shares. The commercial and services sector saw minimal activity, accounting for 0.04% of the day’s value. Nation Media Group remained unchanged at Sh59.75 after trading 22,000 shares worth Sh1.3 million.
The insurance sector recorded Sh3.9 million in trades, with Britam Holdings declining 3.06% to Sh9.50. The investment sector saw Sh7.65 million in transactions, led by Centum’s 234,000 shares valued at Sh7.4 million. At the Fixed Income Securities Market Segment, bond trades reached Sh2.57 billion, up from the previous day’s volume.
