Securities market still enjoying good support

Tuesday, July 17, 2012 - 00:00 -- BY ALY KHAN SATCHU

The NSE20 firmed 6.46 points to close at 3795.10. The NSE20 has rallied 590 Points and 18.408% in 2012. The NSE20 closed at a 12 month high of 3802.96 on Thursday July 12th. The Nairobi all share closed 0.13 points higher at 81.84. Market Cap was 1.071606 trillion. Equity turnover was 201.627m. The market remains well supported but there is more rotation.

In Commercial and Services

Safaricom traded second at the Exchange. Safaricom firmed 1.41% to close at 3.60 and was trading 12 month highs of 3.65 +2.82% at the closing bell. Safaricom printed an intra day of 3.70 +4.23%. Safaricom traded 9.176m shares worth 33.308m. Safaricom is +22.033% in 2012 and 1.36% beneath 3.65 a 12-month closing high from July 3. ScanGroup rallied 3.921% to close at 53.00 and traded 54,700 shares. Kenya Airways firmed 0.352% to close at 14.25 and traded 167,500 shares. Kenya Airways has rallied 16.5% since closing at a six-year plus low on 25th June. Sameer eased 2.439% to close at 4.00 and traded 230,700 shares. Sameer is -9.09% in 2012. Express Kenya which issued a profits warning last week traded 44,800 shares at 4.00 and unchanged. Uchumi closed 0.321% lower at 15.50 and traded 57,200 shares.

Among Banks

Kenya Commercial Bank was the most active share at the Exchange. KCB closed unchanged at 23.25 and traded a 23.00-23.75 range and 1.698m shares worth 39.499m. Barclays Bank firmed 0.366% to close at 13.70 and traded 398,500 shares. Barclays Bank is +5.38% over the last four weeks. Equity Bank closed unchanged at 21.50 and traded 1.372m shares worth 29.52m. COOP Bank closed unchanged at 11.55 and traded 1.620m shares worth 18.739m. Centum eased 0.784% to close at 12.65 and traded 55,300 shares.

Industrial and Allied

EABL eased 0.44% to close at 222.00 and traded a 216.00-223.00 range and 110,400 shares worth 24.604m. EABL is +30.523% on a total return basis. EABL has corrected 7.5% lower since July 6th, when it closed at 240.00 an all time closing high. Bamburi Cement closed unchanged at 180.00 and traded 52,100 shares worth 9.378m. This is in fact an 18-month high. Bamburi Cement has rallied 14.649% over the last month and trades on a trailing PE of 12.4654. Athi River Mining firmed 1.01% to close at 199.00 and traded 20,300 shares. ARM is +25.949% in 2012 and sits 2.92% below 205.00 a record closing high from July 6 this year. ARM trades on a trailing PE of 17.1915.

Portland eased 1.7233% to close at 57.00 on low volume of 600 shares. BOC Kenya was high ticked 8.70% to close at 125.00 and traded a 100 shares. Mumias Sugar closed unchanged at 6.70 and traded a 6.60-6.90 range and 1.333m shares worth 8.988m. Mumias Sugar is +26.415% in 2012 and trades on a trailing PE of 5.3175. Kenya Power KPLC eased 0.33% to close at 15.20 and traded 439,500 shares. KPLC is -2.564% in 2012. KenGen closed unchanged at 8.45 and traded 407,900 shares.