Shilling breaches the 95 resistance level against the US Dollar

The NSE-20 share index crossed over the 5,100 mark gaining 0.30% to 5100.51 points, the NASI was also buoyant propping up 0.46% to 173.94 points.

Market capitalization shored up 0.46% to KES 2.43Tn, however, equity turnover plunged 62.45% to KES 337.39Mn on the back of declined volumes of shares traded. Kenya Commercial Bank Ltd (NSE: KCB) & Safaricom Ltd (NSE: SCOM) were the most active counters accounting for 47.71% of the day’s traded value.

Safaricom Ltd ( NSE:SCOM) touched an all time high of KES 17.65 in today’s trading session attributed to heightened activity on the counter ahead of its FY earnings release scheduled for Thursday 7th May 2015. Anticipation on the firm’s earnings is high following a H1 FY 2015 net income of KES 14.76Bn which was a 30.6% increase from the previous half year. The Telco’s share price closed at KES 17.50 gaining 0.29%.

Liberty Kenya Holdings Ltd (NSE: CFCI) has shored up consistently this week indicating maintained investor appetite for the counter that advanced 8.33% to KES 22.75 in today’s trading session. The insurer is yet to announce its AGM date in which it is expected to declare the closure date of its KES 0.50 dividend.

Foreign investor participation edged upwards during Tuesday’s trading session with foreigner’s accounting for 54.78% of total turnover against 45.22% local participation. Investors remained dominant on the demand side, resulting in net inflows worth KES 5.87Mn compared to net inflows worth KES 83.17Mn on Monday.

The highlights of the day’s trading activity are listed below:

Foreign investors accounted for 54.78% of the NSE turnover as compared to 36.40% on Monday. Investors engaged in accumulative activities recording net inflows worth KES 5.87Mn relative to net inflows worth KES 83.17Mn on Monday.

Kenya Commercial Bank (NSE: KCB) was the day’s highest traded stock, recording a turnover of KES
169.27Mn to account for 30.37% of total market activity and 55.44% of foreign activity. Equity Group
Holdings Limited (NSE: EQTY) followed with a turnover of KES 36.89Mn representing 6.62% of total
market activity and 12.08% of foreign activity.

Cooperative Bank of Kenya (NSE: COOP) posted the day’s highest inflows of KES 14.41Mn , whilst Kenya
Commercial Bank (NSE: KCB) posted the day’s highest outflows worth KES 15.27Mn.

Currency

Performance: The Kenyan Shilling (KES) extended further shedding for a fifth day by 0.30% against the US Dollar (USD) to 95.05 breaching the 95 resistance level prior to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meet set to take place tomorrow, with the Central Bank Rate having remained unchanged since May 2013 pegged at 8.5%.

Further shedding was registered against the Sterling Pound (GBP) by 0.32% to 143.93 supported by positive UK house prices; while the shilling gained 0.11% against the Euro (EUR) to 105.76 as the German Finance Minister expressed optimism in ensuring Greece avoids a default ahead of the May 11th Euro group meet. On the regional front, the shilling shed a further 0.38%, 0.47% and 0.57% against the South African Rand (ZAR), Ugandan Shilling (UGX) and the Tanzanian Shilling respectively.

Large-Cap Index

The Large Cap index edged up 0.55% as market capitalization expanded 0.53% to KES2.05Bn. Volume of traded shares slid 18.84% to 12,438 shares.

• Diamond Trust Bank Ltd (NSE: DTB) gained 3.07% to KES 235.00, marking the day as the top gainer in the
  large cap segment.

• Equity Group Holdings Ltd (NSE: EQTY) retreated a marginal 1.01% to KES 49.00.

Mid-Cap Index

The Mid Cap index dipped a further 0.41% with market capitalization advancing 0.15% to KES 273.74Bn.Volume of trades plummeted 79.85% to 7.52Mn.

• Liberty Kenya Holdings Ltd (NSE: CFCI) expanded 8.33% to KES 22.75 as investors took to accumulation
  activities on the counter.

• Trans Century Ltd (NSE: TCL ) slid 8.12% to a Vwap of KES 14.15 resulting from withdrawals on the counter following the release of its FY2014 earnings in which it registered a net loss of KES 2.28Bn .

Small-Cap Index

The Small Cap Index diminished 0.84% in tandem with market capitalisation that rescinded 0.80% to
KES 38.85Bn.

• Express Kenya Ltd (NSE: XPRS) extended 2.68% to close at a Vwap of KES 5.75.

• Eveready East Africa Ltd (NSE: EVRD) slipped 4.76% to a Vwap of KES 4.00.