This archive report was first published on 19 August 2019.
On August 19, 2019, investor wealth at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) inched upwards marginally, from Ksh2.31 trillion to settle at Ksh2.32 trillion at closing bell.
The increase in market capitalisation came against the backdrop of a decline in equity turnover, with the NSE opening the week's trading with a turnover of Ksh539 million and 21 million shares changing hands.
Compared to the previous session on Friday, when the NSE had seen 28 million shares transacted at a value of Ksh847 million, the current session's turnover was significantly lower.
The bond market also experienced an increase, rising from an approximate Ksh800 million on Friday to Ksh900 million on the opening trading day.
The regular top trading sectors, banking and telecommunications, continued to dominate the market, contributing 89.78% of the day's traded value.
Safaricom was the day's biggest contributor, with 13.6 million shares valued at Ksh401 million, equivalent to 74.41% of the mobile phone operator's traded value.
The telco also contributed to the only futures contract traded at the NSE derivatives market, with Safaricom's single stock future trading at a price of Ksh28 for a futures contract set to expire on September 19 worth Ksh28,000.
Banks on the spot market had shares worth Ksh82.9 million transacted, accounting for 15.37% of the day's traded value, with KCB Group, Equity Group Holdings, and Barclays Bank being the most active.
Market indicators performed as follows:
- The All Share Index NASI picked up 0.52 points to stand at 151.92.
- The NSE 20 Share Index was down 21.65 points to stand at 2518.30.
- The NSE 25 Share index lost 4.44 points to settle at 3593.33.
Other notable sectors included the Commercial and Services sector, which had shares worth Ksh5.4 million traded and accounted for 1.02% of the day's traded value, and the Insurance sector, which had shares worth Ksh10.2 million traded and accounted for 1.89% of the day's traded value.
